Ashes, 3rd Test: Carey, Khawaja shine on see-saw opening day in Adelaide
Australian wicket-keeper batter Alex Carey and last-minute entrant Usman Khawaja stole the show on Day 1 of the third Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval.
New Delhi: Alex Carey scored a stunning century in front of the home crowd, and Usman Khawaja played a career-saving knock of 82 to help Australia reach 326 for eight at stumps on a see-saw opening day of the third Ashes test at the Adelaide Oval.
Fast bowler Joffra Archer (3/29) ripped the Australian top order and took three big wickets, including Cameron Green, who was sent packing for nought a day after landing a Rs 25.20 crore IPL deal with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Archer's two wickets in three balls immediately after lunch and spinner Will Jacks' double blow to dismiss Australia's leading scorers to give England a slight edge in batting-friendly conditions.
Carey added 91 with Khawaja, who replaced ill Steve Smith at the last notice, 59 with Josh Inglis, 26 with Pat Cummins and 50 with Mitchell Starc to keep Australia afloat. Carey's wicket just before stumps brought some respite for the Englishmen.
Left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc, player of the match in the opening two Tests, tormented England with the bat and was unbeaten on 33 at stumps.
Carey hits hometown century
The record crowd of 56,298 brought the best out of Carey.
"A decent day's cricket. The crowd - 56,000 in Adelaide - it's pretty special," Carey said. "To make a hundred here in front of home fans and family, it was a great moment."
Stand-in skipper Steve Smith, who led the team to wins in Perth and Brisbane in the absence of Cummins, failed to recover in time from dizziness and nausea to start the third test, allowing Khawaja to make a comeback on the eve of his 39th birthday.
Returning to lead after recovering from a back injury, Cummins' decision to bat was going in Australia's favour after the opening partnership of Travis Head and Jake Weatherald made the most of the wayward bowling from Brydon Carse.
However, Archer gave the visitors a crucial breakthrough in his fifth over, dismissing Weatherald (18) on a pacey short delivery.
Brydon Carse made amends and took Head's wicket on the first ball of the next over as Australia slumped to 33/2.
Khawaja capitalised on a reprieve on 5 in the 16th over when Harry Brook put down a catch at second slip and took advantage of some mediocre bowling.
Both sets of players wore black armbands to pay tribute to the 15 people killed and dozens injured in an antisemitic attack at Sydney's iconic Bondi Beach on Sunday.