Alex Carey’s brilliant hometown hundred and Usman Khawaja’s impressive knock after a last-minute recall led the way on day one of the third Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval.
It was not all smooth sailing for the hosts, however, as an Australian great slammed the top order for a series of “lazy” dismissals that prevented England suffering a real day in the dirt as Australia finished 8/326.
There were positive signs for the visitors with Jofra Archer responding well to Steve Smith’s sledge at the Gabba.
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Meanwhile, the rest of their bowling line-up have a few issues to deal with.
Scroll down for the biggest talking points from day one at the Adelaide Oval!
Aussie batters give away ‘soft’ wickets | 00:53
‘JUST A GREAT PLAYER UNDER PRESSURE’: CAREY MASTERCLASS SAVES AUSSIES
These might just be Alex Carey’s Ashes.
The hometown hero enjoyed one of the best days of his career on Wednesday, scoring his third Test century, and his first Ashes hundred, in front of his adoring Adelaide Oval crowd.
The Australian gloveman strode to the crease in the first over after lunch with his side in trouble at 4/94, but responded with a chanceless ton that was brought up in 135 deliveries.
“As he’s often done in the last couple of years, he’s just made some really important runs at crucial times,” Australian great Mark Waugh told foxsports.com.au.
“He’s just a great player under pressure, I think. Technically very correct and he’s making a case to be the permanent No.6, I think.”
Carey has been in the spotlight for several other reasons – including the Bairstow stumping at Lords in 2023 and for his exceptional work up to the stumps to Michael Neser at the Gabba – but he has also now stolen the show for the way he wields the willow.
Carey has enjoyed a sneakily impressive year with the bat.
Questions were asked when Josh Inglis was called into the team in Brisbane to playing as a specialist batter at No.7, but Carey’s form with the blade has simply been too good for the Australian hierarchy to pass up the chance to slide him up the order.
No Australian has scored more Test runs in 2025.
With Carey finishing 108 from 143 balls – he as 671 runs for the calendar year at an average of 51.61 and a strike rate of 79.78.
Between Australia and England, only Joe Root (732) has scored more runs in 2025.
Carey’s day one masterclass was his second century of the year after a career-best 156 in the second Test in Galle in February.
That mauling of Sri Lanka’s spinner came at No.5 – above Inglis and all-rounder Beau Webster.
In the first Test of that series, he also peeled off an unbeaten 46 from No.6.
He then played crucial hands of 65 and 63 from No.7 in the first and second Tests in testing conditions for batters in the West Indies.
He scored another 63 in the first innings in Brisbane, relishing the chance to move one spot up the order.
The opportunity to bat higher is something Carey wants more of.
“I’d always love to bat as high up the order as I can. I do it in Sheffield Shield cricket, I bat five, at times four. I love batting,” Carey said at a Coopers promotional event on Sunday.
There is no reason why he cannot do so if he keeps to work his way up the all-time rankings.
Only Adam Gilchrist (17), Brad Haddin (4) and Ian Healy (4) have more Test hundreds among Australian wicketkeepers, and Carey’s push towards the greats has come off the back of a more aggressive mindset in recent times.
“I think he’s always been a good player, but it’s probably just confidence,” Waugh told foxsports.com.au.
“You make important runs in tough conditions and you naturally feel more confident in your own game.
“I think it’s just that. He’s always had a good, solid technique as a good starting point and now he’s got that confidence.
“He’s a very aggressive player. He scores quickly. So, he can put pressure back on the bowlers.”
DEJA VU: HEROIC KHAWAJA MAKES MOST OF ‘FREE HIT’ TO CREATE SELECTION SQUEEZE
On the opening morning of the third Test in Adelaide, many would have said there was more chance of the Barmy Army erupting into Australia’s national anthem, than Usman Khawaja being recalled to the hosts’ starting XI.
Yet here we are after day one, with the veteran left-hander sitting pretty with a 28th Test fifty next to his name.
Not for the first time in his 86-Test career, Khawaja received an 11th-hour call-up to the side with his international career at a crossroads.
In the fourth Test of the last Ashes series on Australian soil, the Queenslander replaced Travis Head in Sydney, after the livewire was ruled out with a positive Covid test.
Khawaja went on to hit 137 and 101 across both innings, and secure his spot in the side for another four years — a highly improbable outcome at the time.
Today, it was Steve Smith’s vertigo bout and disrupted preparation that was his lifeline almost exactly four years on.
To the surprise of some, Khawaja replaced Smith in a straight swap at number four in the batting order. It’s a position that before today, he had only batted in twice across 153 innings for Australia — one of which was in Perth amid back spasm complaints.
Coming to the crease at 2/33, Khawaja, who turns 39 on Thursday, was given an early life after being dropped at second slip by Harry Brook on just five.
From there though, he made scoring look effortless. Long gone was his slow start, with world-class strokeplay through the leg side off both pace and spin bowling.
Clips off the pads, pulls shots with the front knee up, and meticulous sweeping, Khawaja was doing it all not even hours after his shock call-up.
“Everybody’s human, and there probably would’ve been a part of him that went to bed last night thinking: ‘Have I played my last game for Australia? Is that Baggy Green ever going to go on my head in a professional setting ever again?’” Australian fast bowling great Brett Lee told foxsports.com.au.
“When you’ve been dropped at the age of 38 — and turning 39 on Thursday — it can be a long road back, and sometimes a road that shuts permanently.
“He’s been given a lifeline through the illness of Steve Smith, but he’s grabbed it with two hands, and that’s what you have to do.”
“This is essentially a free hit for him, and that’s the way he went out and hit five boundaries in the space of no time (after being dropped), shows he’s got that momentum now.
“He’s been a great, great player for Australia, and wouldn’t this be a great fairytale? Waking up in the morning and thinking you’re never going to play again for Australia, and then go peel off a big score!”
And grab it with two hands he did. While Khawaja ultimately fell short of what would have been an incredible three-figure milestone, his score of 82, which included 10 boundaries, now leaves the Australian selectors with a major selection dilemma already heading into Melbourne.
“It’s tricky isn’t it? Smith comes back in, who gets left out? That’s the selectors’ job to work that one out,” Australian great Mark Waugh told foxsports.com.au.
“I think if Khawaja plays in the future, he should open, but they’re sort of mixing and matching the batting order.
“He took advantage of an early change and then he played really nicely. Played really positively.
“He’s probably shown that he can bat anywhere in the order, which probably enhances his chances of selection moving forward.”
‘MAYBE A BIT OF COMPLACENCY’: AUSSIES FALL TO ‘LAZY’ DISMISSALS
Australia’s top order batters would be absolutely kicking themselves after the first day’s play in Adelaide.
After Pat Cummins won the toss and chose to bat with temperatures hitting 35 degrees, the hosts’ top order missed their chance to really make England bake in the scorching heat.
“I think Australia have gifted England, I’d say probably five wickets with lazy shots, chipping balls, getting caught in the in field or the out field,” Australian great Mark Waugh told foxsports.com.au.
“Josh Inglis would be disappointed with his dismissal.
“At the end of the day, Australia are probably still in a decent position now.
“But (450-500) is what you’d think you’d be scoring on this sort of surface, but these things happen,” he added.
Travis Head and Jake Weatherald looked set for another fruitful opening stand only to fall in the space of six balls.
Weatherald went first, undone by a Jofra Archer bouncer from around the wicket.
Head then let Brydon Carse off the hook, who had been smashed about by the aggressive openers, when he miscued a half volley that was well caught down low by Zak Crawley at cover point.
“This was a result of Travis Head lacking rhythm, they kept him scoreless. One scoring shot in his final 17 deliveries. They know when he is not on point, he is vulnerable,” O’Keeffe said on Kayo Sports’ live Ashes coverage.
“This was a release shot, the weight was back. It was a full delivery. His weight only went forward after contact.”
After lunch, Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green then handed Archer two more scalps.
Labuschagne dropped his bat and stood at the crease in disbelief as he departed on the first ball of the second session, chipping a half-hearted cross bat shot to Brydon Carse at mid-wicket.
Carse was in the game again two balls later, snaffling a far more difficult chance at forward square leg as Green’s clip off the pads sailed to his right.
Diving full length, Carse held on with both hands to send Green on his way for a second ball duck.
“I don’t think Australia will be particularly happy with those dismissals, they’re all soft dismissals, all four of them,” Australian great Mark Waugh said on Kayo Sports’ live Ashes coverage.
For Green, it was a humbling experience after he became the highest paid international player in IPL history during Tuesday night’s auction – he was sold to Kolkata Knight Riders for a whopping $4.17 million – although, he will receive $2.98m due to new rules for overseas players, where any additional funds over 18 crore (almost $3m) go straight to the BCCI’s player development program.
Looking to bounce back from his poor dismissal in Brisbane, where he was bowled backing away to Carse who had been using a barrage of short balls, a duck in Adelaide was not ideal.
In fact, it badly hurt his career numbers.
After 26 innings in 18 Tests, Green’s average on home soil has dipped below 30 – to 29.56 with four half-centuries and a highest score of 84.
His IPL stats are quite strong but Green has long been a man selected, and paid, on potential.
He is yet to truly live up to the billing, with The Age’s Andrew Wu pointing out Green – who’s now 26 years old – is behind most other Aussie all-rounders at the same point of his career.
Despite being a shining light for Australia after his last-minute recall, Usman Khawaja would also have been disappointed with his dismissal, top edging a sweep shot to deep square leg just 18 runs shy of a 17th Test century.
Khawaja had been playing spinner Will Jacks with ease until that point, and his downfall came out of the blue.
That was the general vibe for the rest of Australia’s five, besides Weatherald, too.
Head, Labuschagne, Green and Khawaja were all strange dismissals that seemingly were plucked out of thin air.
“Maybe a bit of complacency or a lack of concentration,” Waugh told foxsports.com.au.
“They lost two wickets straight after lunch, which to me is probably a concentration issue.
“A bit of a mixture of reasons why Australia have done what they’ve done today, but someone always stands up.
“The last Test, they all made runs, five or six fifties.
“You would have liked a bit more runs from the top order, but guys like Alex Carey have been able to hold down the fort.”
JOFRA RESPONDS TO SMITH’S SLEDGE
Well, Jofra Archer clearly listened to Steve Smith’s words on the final evening in Brisbane because this time around he bowled fast when there was something going on.
England’s leading quick ripped out the heart of Australia’s top order with a hostile display that left the hosts stunned early, before he ended the day with figures of 3/29 from 16 overs including five maidens.
Jake Weatherald (18) was first to go in the morning session, bounced out as part of a fiery six-over opening spell that conceded just seven runs.
Archer returned immediately after lunch and sent Marnus Labuschagne (19) on his way first ball after the break as Australia’s No.3 tamely chipped a catch to Brydon Carse at mid-wicket with a half-hearted cross bat shot.
Two balls later, Cameron Green departed for a second ball duck, clipping off the pads to a full-length diving Carse to hand Archer his third of the day.
The dismissals of Labuschagne and Green were far from pretty and said a lot about the batters’ shot selection, but it was also reward for Archer’s discipline.
The 30-year-old was very economical as well as lightning-fast, conceding only 19 runs from his ten overs.
“He has been very effective,” Australian captain Alyssa Healy said on Kayo Sports’ live Ashes coverage.
“He was the pick with the new ball, got it in the right areas. Set up Jake Weatherald beautifully and obviously the first over after the lunch break, got Marnus Labuschagne snoozing a little bit on that first ball, and Cam Green just chipping one to Brydon Carse.
“Just putting the ball in the right spots and making the Australians play shots that they are uncomfortable with has got them the rewards.”
Jofra gives daggers to Weatherald! | 00:41
Archer’s efforts brought much delight to the Barmy Army gathered behind him on the iconic hill as they watched Australia’s top four hop around the crease.
The modern scoreboard attendants knew exactly what they were doing, flashing up the findings of the speed gun every delivery with Archer consistently hitting the mid to high 140km/h range.
“The hardest thing for England, is it was a pretty ordinary start again — and I’m being kind there, it’s not the tone you want to set in the first eight overs of the third Test,” former Australian fast bowler Brett Lee told foxsports.com.au.
“The game plan coming to Adelaide is you’ve got to bowl full with the new ball and aim at the stumps. After the first eight overs, they absolutely nailed it … it took them a while to get going today.
“Once he (Archer) got into his third or fourth over … People don’t realise that when you take a Test wicket, you feel like you’re Usain Bolt and could run the 100m sprint in six seconds.
“Now I’ve seen him live on a number of occasions, I think he’s that player who needs an injection of energy through a wicket.”
It was the sort of performance that was exactly what captain Ben Stokes would have asked for in his much discussed heart to hearts with his teammates after Brisbane.
Others might not have really listened, however, as runs flowed relatively freely at the other end.
Archer’s new ball partner Carse allowed Weatherald and Travis Head (10) to get off to a promising start before he nabbed the key wicket of the latter, thanks to Zak Crawley’s superb catch low to his left at cover point.
Carse’s opening five overs conceded 29 overs, including five fours as he failed to find a consistent length with Australia’s openers peppering the cover point boundary early.
He also over stepped four times in his opening spell, and six times for the day.
With England having made the eyebrow raising decision to drop Gus Atkinson and leave Carse in for this Test, greats of the game were blasting the 30-year-old in the commentary boxes.
“This is poor, it really is,” former England captain Michael Vaughan said on Fox Cricket.
“They have to win this first session … Carse is just going far too short, he has done throughout the series.”
He added: “That’s garbage, it really is.”
SPINNER ‘CONUNDRUM’ THAT SIGNALS POINT OF NO RETURN FOR POMS
It’s the investment that, at this point, simply has to have kept England selectors up at night more than just once.
For the third straight Test, Shoaib Bashir was snubbed as the visitors’ front-line spinner, with batting all-rounder Will Jacks their preferred slow bowling option.
And while there ultimately isn’t any way to prove that his Bashir’s output would have been greater with the ball than Jacks so far this series, the inability for Ben Stokes to turn to a genuine spin-bowling option has clearly hurt England in the field.
Jacks, who came into Adelaide with a first-class bowling average north of 42, did take the important wicket of Usman Khawaja for 82 as tea approached on the opening day — but it came at a cost.
His economy rate for the day was a run-a-ball for his first dozen overs for the day, and finished at 2-105 after 20 overs, leaving Jofra Archer as the only Pom to genuinely tie down an end amid the Adelaide heat.
“It’s a conundrum; with all due respect to Bashir’s batting, they want to strengthen their batting,” Brett Lee told foxsports.com.au.
“Jacks can play the role of doing both (batting and bowling) … he could play the role of a front-line spinner.
“I’ve always liked having a front-line spinner in any Test attack … (even with Australia) I was shocked they didn’t pick Nathan Lyon in that second Test.
“I’d be inclined, if I was England, to go with a front-line spinner.”
Of course, the move to select Jacks over Bashir also factors in Jacks’ ability with the bat and in the field. It’s a three-dimensional play, but at what cost?
“I mentioned this three-year journey that Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum have taken English cricket on. For much of that, they’ve picked Shoaib Bashir, and we’ve been told that it’s been for Australian conditions,” former England captain Michael Vaughan said on Fox Cricket.
“To think that he’s been on that journey, (but) he’s not playing here at the Adelaide Oval where it’s going to be absolutely roasting on a pitch that we know will take a bit of spin … that can’t be right.
“The decision not to play their main spinner, having backed him for pretty much three years, is a big call by the England side. You have to say it’s been the wrong call to go on all that journey with Bashir if he’s not going to be playing here.”
It now looks likely that the Poms are past the point of no return on this tour with Bashir, and could signal his 19-Test career to date as one that would’ve been far better being invested elsewhere.
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