IMAGES from Day 1 of the 3rd Ashes Test played in Adelaide on Wednesday.
Hometown hero Alex Carey scored his first Ashes century to rescue Australia from a batting meltdown as England's bowlers toiled in an Adelaide Oval cauldron on a scorching opening day of the third Test on Wednesday.
Wicketkeeper Carey's 106 helped drive Australia to 326 for eight at stumps, with Mitchell Starc (33 not out) and Nathan Lyon, scoreless off 18 balls, having provided stubborn tail-end resistance.
Batting at number four, Usman Khawaja capitalised on his late inclusion in place of an unwell Steve Smith, scoring 82 off 126 balls.
He and Carey combined in a crucial 91-run stand that pulled the hosts from peril after they were reduced to 94 for four straight after lunch.
Trailing 2-0 in the series, England's hopes of keeping the Ashes alive suffered an early blow when home captain Pat Cummins won the toss and put his team into bat on a firm wicket begging for a big score.
By stumps, with the temperature still hovering around 35 degrees Celsius (95F), England's prospects appeared bleak after Carey and Starc pushed the hosts past 300.
With day two expected to hit 39 degrees, the tourists will be desperate for quick wickets in the morning to avert another punishing day in the field.
Yet again, England had moments of ascendancy but they were unable to take their chances.
Khawaja was the chief beneficiary, being dropped on three by Harry Brook at second slip with a thick edge off the bowling of recalled paceman Josh Tongue.
A diving Brydon Carse put down a tougher chance to remove Carey for 52 when he smashed Archer into the covers.
Captain Ben Stokes burned two of England's reviews trying to dislodge Carey, first for lbw when he was on 52 and later for a caught-behind appeal on 72.
But he held on stubbornly to raise his third test century from 135 balls and soak up chants of "Carey! Carey!" from the sell-out crowd of 56,298 at his home stadium.
Carey's standing ovation came after he became the villain of the 2023 Ashes for throwing down Jonny Bairstow's stumps in a controversial run-out during the second test at Lord's.
Soon after, though, he was caught for 106 trying to slog-sweep the spin of Will Jacks, sending a top-edge soaring.
Earlier, Usman Khawaja scored a defiant half-century as a late inclusion to the Australia team as the hosts pushed to 194 for five at tea on day one of the third Ashes Test against England on Wednesday.
Wicketkeeper Alex Carey was 48 not out, with number seven batter Josh Inglis on five after Khawaja was caught for 82 at deep square leg off the spin of Will Jacks, ending a 91-runpartnership with Carey.
Khawaja had been drafted in late at Adelaide Oval after Steve Smith was forced to withdraw due to vertigo. He was dropped when on three by Harry Brook in the slips, having nicked paceman Josh Tongue.
Australia resumed on 94 for two after lunch, having won the toss and opting to bat first.
Marnus Labuschagne (18) and all-rounder Cameron Green (0) both threw away their wickets in three balls after lunch, with Brydon Carse catching both at midwicket off the bowling of Jofra Archer in near-identical dismissals.
Earlier, Australia were 94 for two at lunch on day one of the third Ashes Test against England on Wednesday after home captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat first on a sweltering morning at Adelaide Oval.
Number three batter Marnus Labuschagne was 19 not out,with Usman Khawaja on 41, the pair having built a partnership of 61 runs.
Harry Brook dropped Khawaja on three in the slips after paceman Josh Tongue induced a thick edge off the left-hander.
Australia suffered a late blow, with Steve Smith ruled outdue to vertigo and replaced by Khawaja at number four.
England dismissed both Australia's openers in a six-ball burst before the first drinks break.
Jofra Archer removed JakeWeatherald for 18 with a fast bouncer, the left-hander miscuing a pull to give an easy catch behind the wicket to Jamie Smith.
Brydon Carse recovered from a poor start to have a driving Head caught for 10, with Zak Crawley diving to his left at short-cover to pluck a brilliant one-hander above the grass.
© 2026