Carey’s Adelaide Hundred Keeps Ashes Alive as England Refuse to Fold
So, day one of the third Ashes Test in Adelaide has delivered exactly the kind of tension this series desperately needed. England may be two-nil down, but they showed real fight under brutal heat as Alex Carey’s superb century helped Australia reach 326 for eight after being sent in to bat. It was one of those days where momentum kept shifting, emotions ran high, and neither side was ever fully in control.
Australia won the toss on a slow, sunbaked pitch and would have expected a dominant start. Instead, they were made to work for every run. England struck early and often, even though they were immediately dealt an emotional blow before play began, with the Adelaide Oval observing a minute’s silence for the victims of the Bondi Beach shooting. Adding to the drama, Steve Smith was ruled out shortly before the start with dizziness and nausea, forcing a late change that handed Usman Khawaja an unexpected lifeline.
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Khawaja grabbed that chance with both hands. Dropped early on five, he settled in and played a calm, measured innings of 82, absorbing pressure and steadying Australia when wickets were falling around him. Alongside him, Alex Carey produced the defining knock of the day. Batting on his home ground, and clearly fuelled by emotion, Carey compiled a composed yet assertive 106 that stopped England from running right through the Australian order.
That innings was not without controversy. On 72, Carey edged behind off Josh Tongue, but England’s review failed despite Carey later admitting he had hit the ball. It proved a huge moment. From there, Carey grew in authority, driving crisply, targeting the shorter boundaries, and punishing England’s part-time spin. When he reached his hundred with a flowing cover drive, the Adelaide crowd rose as one, and Australia finally had some breathing room.
England, though, deserve plenty of credit. Jofra Archer led the attack superbly, finishing with three for 29 and bowling with pace, control, and menace. He ripped through Australia just after lunch, removing key batters in quick succession and giving England a genuine opening when the hosts slipped to 271 for seven. Even when things threatened to get away from them, England kept scrapping. Mitchell Starc’s late support for Carey pushed Australia past 300, but the tourists never let the game drift.
By stumps, Australia’s position was solid rather than dominant, and that will give England belief. With a nearly new ball waiting on day two, there is still a chance to bowl Australia out for a manageable total. What comes next is defining. England must now bat under pressure, knowing their Ashes hopes hang by a thread, but after a day like this, one thing is clear: they are still very much in the fight.
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