Australia claimed the advantage in the third Ashes Test against England thanks to Alex Carey’s magnificent 106 on his home ground and Usman Khawaja’s courageous 82 on Wednesday.
The hosts were 326-8 at stumps on day one, batting after skipper Pat Cummins won the toss in temperatures above 36 degrees Celsius at Adelaide Oval following the shock of Steve Smith being ruled out due to illness. Nathan Lyon was yet to score, while Mitchell Starc was not out at 33.
“To make a hundred here in front of home fans and family was special,” an emotional Carey told Australian TV.
Carey remembered his father Gordon, who passed away in September from cancer, by pointing to the sky as he celebrated his first Ashes ton.
“I guess you know as well why I was looking to the heavens. I’m trying not to tear up. But, no, it was great.”
TV cameras spotted Eloise, the wicketkeeper’s wife, in tears while he celebrated.
“To have, mum, brother, sister, Eloise, the kids (here), it was a special moment,” Carey added.
On a difficult day for England’s bowlers in the field, a tireless Jofra Archer finished with 3-29.
“I thought it was a good performance from our bowlers, the heat took us a bit by surprise,” said England bowling coach David Saker. “The boys toiled away. (Archer) had a point to prove, he sustained his pace and bowled at the stumps, and he was well supported.”
Following consecutive eight-wicket thrashings in Perth and Brisbane, Australia leads the five-Test series 2-0 and will keep the Ashes whether they win or draw.
Despite feeling ill in the lead-up, Smith, who has amassed over 10,000 runs, was picked in the team on Tuesday. 20 minutes before the toss, he left the field, shaking his head, despite having been there during the morning warm-up.
Khawaja, who turns 39 on Thursday and was overlooked as the opener in favor of Travis Head and Jake Weatherald, had an unexpected reprieve from his absence.
Khawaja seized his opportunity with a gutsy knock after missing Brisbane due to back spasms in Perth. He was finally dismissed just before tea, slog-sweeping to Josh Tongue in the deep off Will Jacks’ spin.
Carey took over, first with Josh Inglis (32), then Pat Cummins (13), and finally Starc, who once again demonstrated his batting skills. In front of family, friends, and 56,298 spectators—the largest cricket crowd ever at the venue—Carey reached his third Test century with eight fours and a six.
Australia was reeling at 94/4 after Archer’s scorching first over following lunch. After the break, he dismissed Marnus Labuschagne for 19 with his first ball.
After two deliveries, Brydon Carse collected catches at midwicket to remove both of them, including Cameron Green. Tongue and Carse dismissed Inglis and Cummins, respectively, in the last session.
Both teams’ players honored the victims of the Bondi Beach mass shooting by donning black armbands. Before the start of the game, there was a moment of silence, security was enhanced, and flags were flown half-mast.
Weatherald quickly reached 18 off 27 balls at the beginning, but Archer’s quick pace cost him when he shot down a bouncer and gave wicketkeeper Jamie Smith a top edge. Zak Crawley made a fantastic reflex catch low to his left off Carse in Head’s subsequent over for 10.
Khawaja, on five, survived a reprieve when Harry Brook spilled a regulation chance at second slip and went on to raise his 28th Test fifty to loud cheers. Carey, too, enjoyed a slice of luck on 52 when Brydon Carse put down a tough chance in the covers. The 34-year-old capitalised on the miss before eventually falling late in the day, top-edging Will Jacks to Steve Smith just before the close.
