Alex Carey’s superb home-ground century lifted Australia to 326 for eight on an absorbing opening day of the third Ashes Test, as England’s bowlers produced a far more spirited display to keep their slim hopes alive in Adelaide.
Trailing 2–0 after heavy defeats in Perth and Brisbane, England were dealt an early setback when Pat Cummins won the toss on a batting-friendly surface. Yet Ben Stokes’ attack responded admirably in punishing heat, taking regular wickets and preventing Australia from fully cashing in.
Only Carey, with a counterattacking 106, and late call-up Usman Khawaja, who made a composed 82, truly mastered the conditions. The rest of Australia’s line-up struggled for fluency against an England attack led superbly by Jofra Archer.
Archer finished with three for 29 and set the tone, striking early and then delivering a decisive burst just after lunch when Australia appeared poised to seize control. Josh Tongue, recalled in place of Gus Atkinson, impressed with one for 63, while Brydon Carse (two for 70) justified Stokes’ faith with timely breakthroughs. Will Jacks, preferred ahead of specialist spinner Shoaib Bashir, absorbed pressure to remove both Khawaja and Carey.
Despite England’s encouraging showing, the match still hinges on whether their much-criticised batting can take advantage of favourable conditions later in the game.
England strike back after flat start
Australia’s day began with disruption, Steve Smith ruled out shortly before play with nausea and dizziness. His absence weakened the hosts and handed Khawaja an unexpected recall at a moment when his Test future looked uncertain.
With the new ball, Archer and Carse were initially loose as Travis Head and Jake Weatherald eased Australia to 33 without loss. Archer soon found his rhythm, however, bouncing out Weatherald for 18 with a sharp short ball that drew a top edge to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith.
Carse followed up by removing Head for 10, Zak Crawley clinging on to a stunning one-handed catch at cover. England briefly let the pressure slip when Harry Brook dropped Khawaja on five, allowing Australia to reach 94 for two at lunch.
The game turned immediately after the interval. Marnus Labuschagne played a careless first-ball stroke, chipping Archer straight to mid-wicket, and three balls later Cameron Green fell for a duck with a loose flick to the same region. From a position of comfort, Australia suddenly found themselves 94 for four.
Khawaja and Carey rebuilt calmly, but the former again threw away a promising innings, slog-sweeping Jacks to the boundary after making 82. Tongue then struck with a deserved wicket as Josh Inglis played on for 32.
Carey’s luck, then brilliance
Carey rode his luck on 72 when England reviewed a caught-behind appeal. Although snickometer showed a spike, it came fractionally before the ball passed the bat, and the on-field decision of not out stood. Carey later admitted he thought he had edged it, leaving England frustrated.
That reprieve proved costly. Carey batted superbly thereafter, combining crisp driving with controlled aggression to reach his first Ashes hundred, sealing the moment by driving Stokes through the covers. His celebration, eyes turned skyward, was a poignant tribute following the death of his father in September.
England eventually removed Cummins via snickometer-confirmed inside edge and later tempted Carey into one shot too many, a miscued slog-sweep off Jacks that ended his innings. Mitchell Starc’s unbeaten 33 then carried Australia past 300, though England ensured there was no late collapse.
With Nathan Lyon yet to score and Starc still there, England will aim to wrap things up quickly on day two. But after two chastening Tests, this was a day that suggested the contest — and the series — still has life left in it.
