Alex Carey's Stunning Century Helps The Hosts Bounce Back After A Swift England Test Series Onslaught.

After that chaos from Perth as well as the Gabba's day-night spectacle, a more familiar brand of the longest format returned at Adelaide Oval. For the delighted South Australian fans, the day proved a day to savour, as local hero Alex Carey delivered a sparkling hundred on his home ground to help Australia edge the first day's play.

However, England, trailing 2-0 while clinging on in the contest, were too disheartened. Ben Stokes had lost what seemed like a significant coin toss and, despite being far from perfect, his bowlers kept persevering in 35c heat. At stumps, Australia had reached 326 for eight from 83 overs – a total on the board but surely below their expectations after Pat Cummins won the choice in the morning.

The Pace of Archer Stands Out For The Tourist's Resistance.

The standout for the tourists was Jofra Archer. Returning figures of 3/29 off 16 overs were a strong response against some of criticism directed at him this past week. Here he visibly led the bowling unit, averaging 88mph (142kph) on the speed gun and offering his captain a combination of control together with obvious menace. Only at the end of play – during a single over with the second new ball – that he appeared a bit jaded.

After bounced out Jake Weatherald first thing, Archer's first over after lunch accounted for Marnus Labuschagne followed by Cameron Green within just three balls. Green's golden duck was a stark reminder of how cricket can swiftly bring a player back down to earth, his tepid chip shot to the mid-wicket fielder occurring less than a day after trousering a massive £1.5m deal for the upcoming Indian Premier League.

Carey's Invaluable Contribution Rescues The Ship.

Carey's performance, in contrast, was simply priceless, culminating around late afternoon when he elegantly drove Ben Stokes through the covers for three runs and the Adelaide faithful to rise in a huge roar. Fresh from his virtuoso outing behind the stumps at the Gabba, the left-hander's aggressive 106 from 143 balls ensured that a post-lunch wobble of 94 for four failed to develop into a full-blown collapse. At 34, Carey is a genuinely Test match player these days.

Australia undoubtedly left some runs out there, though. Gone was that pronounced pace and bounce from the opening matches and in its place only a fraction of seam movement if a good length was located.

There was also a bit of turn for Will Jacks, although his control was typical of a part-timer – hence expensive figures of 2/105 from 20 overs – but the deliveries he did get to misbehave will encourage Australia's own spinner, Nathan Lyon.

Solemn Context with Late Switch.

This was always going to be a poignant day for Australia, arriving so shortly in the wake of the horrific terrorist attack in Bondi. A minute's silence prior to the start of play was immaculately observed, broken only by folk singer a rendition performing a stirring rendition of True Blue.

Earlier, the hosts were also forced into an alteration to their stated XI. Veteran batsman Steve Smith was withdrawn after reporting dizziness along with nausea in the morning – an apparent recurrence of the vertigo that has periodically affected the star batter since being felled by a Jofra Archer bouncer at Lord's six years ago.

His place was taken by Usman Khawaja, just 24 hours after many felt his international career may be over. Before the wicketkeeper's arrival, Khawaja had held the Australian innings together, walking out with the score on 33/2 before finessing 82 from 126 deliveries just a day from his 39th birthday. Partnerships worth 61 runs with Labuschagne plus another of 91 with Carey were crucial.

England's Mixed Bag Continues.

Aside from Archer's efforts, and notwithstanding the energy-sapping heat, it remained still another disappointing outing from the English bowling attack. Brydon Carse rather rolled over his inconsistent form of the series, picking up figures of 2/70 off his 13 overs, and the incoming Josh Tongue claimed one for 63 in 15 overs.

Carse was erratic when handed sharing the new cherry first thing, no-balling five times but still 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 sides: moments of brilliance mixed with periods of error-prone cricket.