Alex Carey's Brilliant Ton Assists Australia Recover From An Early England Test Series Onslaught.

Following that pandemonium from Perth and Brisbane's day-night spectacle, a more traditional style of red-ball cricket was witnessed on the turf of Adelaide Oval. For the home crowd, it was a day to savour, with their boy the wicketkeeper-batsman produced an outstanding hundred at his home venue to help the home side edge the first day's play.

Not that England, 2-0 down and clinging on in this series, could be too downbeat. Skipper Ben Stokes had lost what appeared a crucial toss and, despite being not at their best, the English attack kept toiling under scorching conditions. At stumps, Australia had reached 326-8 from 83 overs – runs on the board but surely short of initial expectations after captain Pat Cummins won the choice first thing.

The Pace of Archer Leads The Tourist's Effort.

The standout for the tourists was Jofra Archer. Figures of 3/29 from his 16 overs constituted a strong riposte to some of scrutiny directed at him his way. Here he visibly spearheaded the bowling unit, averaging around 88mph (142kmh) on the speed gun while providing his captain a combination of control together with clear threat. Only at the very end of play – one over using the second new ball – did he look somewhat jaded.

After bounced out opener Jake Weatherald early on, Archer's initial over post-lunch accounted for Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green within just three balls. The all-rounder's duck was a reminder that this sport can bring a player back to reality, coming from tepid chip shot to mid-wicket arriving less than a day after trousering a record £1.5m contract in the Indian Premier League.

Carey's Invaluable Contribution Rescues The Innings.

Carey's day, however, was nothing short of priceless, peaking at late afternoon as he drove Ben Stokes through the covers for three which prompted the Adelaide faithful rose in a huge roar. Coming off his masterful outing with the gloves at the Gabba, his counterattacking 106 runs from 143 deliveries made sure that the mid-innings stumble of 94 for four did not become a complete collapse. The 34-year-old is a genuinely Test match player these days.

Australia undoubtedly left some runs out there, however. Absent was the excessive pace and bounce from the opening matches replaced by just a hint of seam movement when a good length was located.

The pitch also offered some grip to off-spinner Will Jacks, even if his control was that of a part-time spinner – hence figures of 2/105 off his 20 overs – but the deliveries that did to turn sharply will encourage Nathan Lyon.

Emotional Backdrop and Late Switch.

This was always going to be an emotional day for the host nation, arriving so soon in the wake of the horrific terrorist attack in Bondi. A minute's silence observed before the start of play was immaculately observed, broken only by folk singer John Williams performing a stirring rendition of the anthem True Blue.

By this stage, the hosts had also been forced into a change from their announced XI. Veteran batsman Steve Smith was withdrawn due to feeling dizzy and nausea first thing – an apparent recurrence of the vertigo which has intermittently affected him since he was struck by Archer at Lord’s years back.

In came Usman Khawaja, a day after it was speculated his Test career may be over. Before the wicketkeeper's heroics, Khawaja had expertly held the Australian innings steady, walking out with the score on 33/2 before finessing 82 from 126 balls a day out before his 39th birthday. Stands worth 61 runs with Labuschagne and 91 with Carey proved significant.

The Tourist's Mixed Bag Continues.

Aside from Archer's efforts, and notwithstanding the sapping heat, it remained still another disappointing outing from England’s attack. Brydon Carse somewhat continued his inconsistent form of the series, picking up two for 70 off 13 overs, and the incoming Josh Tongue picked up 1/63 in 15 overs.

Carse looked all over the shop when handed sharing the duty of the new ball early on, overstepping five times yet removing Travis Head for just 10 runs thanks to a spectacular catch by Zak Crawley at cover. It rather summed up the day's play for both sides: brilliance mixed with some error-prone cricket.