Wicketkeeper Alex Carey's Sparkling Century Assists The Baggy Greens Bounce Back After Early England Ashes Onslaught.

In the wake of the chaos of Perth and Brisbane's day-night spectacle, an outbreak of familiar style regarding Test cricket returned on the turf of the Adelaide ground. For the South Australian fans, the day proved a day to cherish, with local hero Alex Carey notched up an outstanding hundred at his home turf to help Australia edge the first day's play.

Not that The touring English side, 2-0 down and clinging on in the series, were entirely disheartened. Skipper Ben Stokes had lost what seemed like an ominous coin toss and, despite being not perfect, his bowlers kept toiling under 35c heat. By the close of play, the Australians had reached 326 for eight off 83 overs – runs on the board but surely short of their ambitions after Pat Cummins got the choice first thing.

Jofra Archer Leads The Tourist's Fightback.

The standout among England was speedster Jofra Archer. Returning figures of 3/29 off 16 overs constituted a strong riposte against the criticism directed at him his way. Here he clearly spearheaded the attack, clocking 88mph (142kph) with the speed gun while providing Stokes both control together with obvious threat. Only at the end of play – during a single over using the second new ball – did he look a bit jaded.

Having bounced out opener Jake Weatherald early on, Archer's first over after lunch wiped out Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green within just three balls. Green's golden duck served as a reminder that this sport can swiftly bring a player back to reality, his tepid chip to mid-wicket arriving less than 24 hours following securing a record multi-million dollar contract in the IPL.

Carey's Priceless Contribution Steadies The Ship.

Carey's day, however, was simply priceless, peaking around 4.48pm when he elegantly drove Stokes through cover for three runs and the crowd to rise in a huge roar. Fresh from his masterful outing with the gloves in Brisbane, the left-hander's aggressive 106 runs from 143 balls made sure that the post-lunch wobble of 94/4 did not become a full-blown crisis. The 34-year-old is a genuinely Test match player nowadays.

The Australian batting lineup did leave a few runs on the field, however. Absent was the excessive bounce from the first two Tests and in its place only a fraction of nibble when a good length was hit.

The pitch also offered a bit of grip for off-spinner Will Jacks, even if his control was that of a part-timer – resulting in expensive figures of 2/105 off 20 overs – and the balls he did get to turn sharply will give hope to Australia's own spinner, Nathan Lyon.

Solemn Context with A Late Team Change.

This was always going to be an emotional day for Australia, arriving so soon after the horrific tragic incident at Bondi. A minute's silence observed before the start of play was perfectly observed, broken only by folk singer John Williams performing an emotional version of 'True Blue'.

By this stage, the hosts had also been compelled to make an alteration from their announced starting eleven. Veteran batsman Steve Smith pulled out after reporting feeling dizzy and sickness first thing – an apparent recurrence of the vertigo that has periodically troubled him since being felled by Archer at Lord's years back.

His place was taken by Usman Khawaja, just 24 hours after many felt his international career may be finished. Before Carey's heroics, the left-hander had expertly held the innings steady, walking out with the score on 33/2 and crafting 82 from 126 balls just a day before his 39th birthday. Partnerships of 61 with Labuschagne and 91 runs with Alex Carey proved crucial.

The Tourist's Mixed Bag Persists.

Aside from Archer's efforts, and despite the energy-sapping conditions, this was still another disappointing day for England’s attack. Brydon Carse rather rolled over his inconsistent form of the first two Tests, finishing with figures of 2/70 from his 13 overs, while the recalled Josh Tongue picked up one for 63 in 15 overs.

Carse was erratic when tasked with sharing the new cherry early on, no-balling five times yet dismissing Travis Head for 10 thanks to a spectacular one-handed catch from Zak Crawley at cover. This moment summed up the day for both teams: brilliance interspersed with periods of sloppy play.