Australia's Alex Carey's Sparkling Ton Helps The Hosts Bounce Back After Early English Ashes Onslaught.

In the wake of that pandemonium from Perth and Brisbane's day-night spectacle, an outbreak of familiar style regarding Test cricket was witnessed on the turf of Adelaide Oval. For the delighted locals, it was one to savour, with homegrown talent the wicketkeeper-batsman notched up an outstanding hundred on his home turf as Australia Australia just shade the first day's play.

However, England, trailing 2-0 and still fighting in the series, could be too disheartened. Skipper Ben Stokes lost out on what appeared an ominous coin toss and, despite being far from perfect, his bowlers continued plugging away in 35c conditions. By the close of play, Australia were 326 for eight off 83 overs – a total on the board but surely short of their ambitions when Pat Cummins got the choice in the morning.

Jofra Archer Stands Out For England's Resistance.

The standout for England proved to be Jofra Archer. Figures of three for 29 from 16 overs were a powerful response to some of criticism directed at him his way. Here he visibly led the bowling unit, averaging 88mph (142kmh) with the speedometer while providing Stokes both accuracy and obvious threat. Only at the end of the day – one over with the second new ball – did he look a bit jaded.

After bounced out opener Jake Weatherald early on, Archer's first over after lunch wiped out Marnus Labuschagne followed by Cameron Green within just three balls. Green's duck was a reminder that cricket can swiftly bring a player back down to earth, his weak chip to the mid-wicket fielder occurring less than a day following securing a record £1.5m contract for the upcoming IPL.

Carey's Priceless Innings Rescues The Ship.

Carey's day, however, was nothing short of priceless, culminating at late afternoon when he elegantly drove Ben Stokes through the covers for three runs and the crowd rose in a huge roar. Coming off that virtuoso outing behind the stumps at the Gabba, the left-hander's aggressive 106 from 143 deliveries made sure that the mid-innings stumble to 94/4 failed to develop into a full-blown crisis. At 34, Carey has become a serious Test match player these days.

The Australian batting lineup undoubtedly left some potential runs on the field, though. Gone was that excessive pace and bounce from the opening matches and in its place only a fraction of seam movement if a good length was hit.

The pitch also offered a bit of grip to Will Jacks, although his consistency was typical of a part-time spinner – hence figures of two for 105 from 20 overs – but the deliveries he did get to misbehave will encourage Australia's own spinner, Nathan Lyon.

Emotional Backdrop and Late Switch.

This was inevitably an emotional day for the host nation, arriving so shortly in the wake of the horrific terrorist attack at Bondi. The minute’s silence before the start of play was perfectly held, broken only by folk singer John Williams performing an emotional version of 'True Blue'.

By this stage, Australia were also compelled to make an alteration from their announced XI. Veteran batsman Steve Smith was withdrawn after reporting dizziness along with nausea in the morning – an apparent return of the vertigo that has intermittently troubled the star batter ever since being felled by Archer at Lord’s six years ago.

In came Usman Khawaja, just 24 hours after many felt his international career could be over. Before the wicketkeeper's arrival, Khawaja had held the innings steady, coming to the crease at 33/2 and crafting a fine 82 off 126 deliveries a day out from his 39th birthday. Partnerships of 61 with Marnus Labuschagne and 91 runs with Carey proved significant.

The Tourist's Frustration Persists.

Archer aside, and despite the energy-sapping conditions, this was still another disappointing outing for England’s attack. Seamer Brydon Carse somewhat continued his inconsistent form from the series, finishing with figures of 2/70 off 13 overs, while the recalled Josh Tongue claimed one for 63 from 15 overs.

Carse was erratic when tasked with sharing the new cherry first thing, no-balling five times yet dismissing Travis Head for 10 courtesy of a spectacular one-handed catch by Zak Crawley in the covers. This moment summed up the day's play for both sides: moments of brilliance mixed with periods of sloppy play.