Alex Carey made England toil on a hot opening day in the third Ashes Test in Adelaide, with Australia on the brink of a resounding series win following their victories in Perth and Brisbane – although the wicketkeeper-batsman admitted he should have been given out after a Snicko controversy.
Australia captain Pat Cummins returned to the team but Steve Smith was ruled out of the Test before play began through illness. Cummins won the toss and decided to bat first only for Jofra Archer to strike early and claim the wicket of Jake Weatherald before Brydon Carse dismissed Travis Head to reduce the hosts to 33-2.
Usman Khawaja (82) hung around to defy his cricketing obituaries and built a solid partnership with Carey after Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green were both dismissed in the first over after lunch by Archer. He was the pick of the England bowlers and led the charge to reduce the hosts to 326-8 at the close of play.
Carey scored 106 and took advantage of some inconsistent bowling from the tourists but Ben Stokes’s men continued to chip away at Australia and will feel they are right in the game on a flat pitch which looks good for batting. Will Jacks took two wickets and there was one each for Josh Tongue and Carse.
Follow all the live coverage and reaction from day one of the third Ashes Test in Adelaide:
Ashes 2025/26: Australia v England - third Test, day one
- England face Australia in the third Ashes Test in Adelaide | Live on TNT Sports
- It's a must-win encounter for England, who trail 2-0 in the best of five series
- Alex Carey scores 106 and leads hosts to 326-8 on finely balanced opening day in Adelaide
- Jofra Archer takes two wickets in first over after lunch but Australia rebuild again to reach 194-5 at tea
- England take two early wickets but Australia reach lunch at 94-2
- Steve Smith suffers last-minute illness and is ruled out for third Test
England said to raise complaint with officials
10:44 , Lawrence OstlereBatting coach David Saker said England had been unhappy with the technology throughout the series, without elaborating on specific instances, and might raise the matter with match officials.
“After today, that may go a bit further,” he said of complaints within the England camp. “It should be better than that. It is what it is.”
Snicko chief explains technology error
09:42 , Lawrence OstlereBBG sports founder and head of technology Warren Brennan told Australian publication The Age: “Given that Alex Carey admitted he had hit the ball in question, the only conclusion that can be drawn from this is that the Snicko operator at the time must have selected the incorrect stump mic for audio processing.
“In light of this, BBG Sports takes full responsibility for the error.”
Alex Carey on Snicko controversy
09:03 , Lawrence Ostlere“I thought there was a bit of a feather or some sort of noise when it passed the bat,” Carey admitted. “It looked a but funny on the replay, didn’t it, with the noise coming a bit early. If I was given out I think I would have reviewed it but probably not confidently. It was a nice sound as it passed the bat.
“Snicko obviously didn’t line up, did it. That’s just the way cricket goes sometimes, you have a bit of luck, and maybe it went my way today.”
Asked if he is a “walker”, Carey smiled: “Clearly not.”
DRS moment was 'amazing', says ex-umpire Taufel
08:59 , Lawrence OstlereSpeaking on Australia’s Channel 7, the former international umpire Simon Taufel called it an “amazing” incident that he’d never seen before.
“The DRS was applied and for the third umpire to overturn the not out decision, we need to see a clear deflection off the bat, or we have to see a spike next to the bat or up to one frame past the bat,” Taufel said. “The confusing element here for everyone was that the spike occurred at least a couple of frames before the bat, which was just amazing.”
He added: “What was interesting in this particular case and in my experience, I have never seen a spike like this occur without the bat hitting something like a pad or the ground or the ball hitting the pad.
“There’s nothing else out there, absolutely nothing else out there, so my gut tells me from all of my experience on-field and also as a TV umpire that I think Alex Carey has actually hit that ball and the technology calibration hasn’t been quite right to game the outcome that it was looking for.”
Carey admits he got lucky with Snicko
08:48 , Lawrence OstlereRead more Alex Carey’s DRS repreive:
Alex Carey admits Australia ‘got lucky’ after Snicko controversy costs England
Day one summary
08:08 , Lawrence OstlereEngland's bowlers fought to keep their Ashes campaign alive on day one of the third Test in Adelaide but a century from Alex Carey ensured Australia did not buckle under pressure.
Ben Stokes called on his side to scrap like dogs after back-to-back defeats in Perth and Brisbane and saw a response as they refused to let the hosts dictate on the best batting surface of the series.
Australia, missing key man Steve Smith who dramatically withdrew at the eleventh hour citing "nausea and dizziness", posted 326 for eight after winning the toss on a pitch that promised big runs. Jofra Archer was the standout England bowler with three for 29 while Zak Crawley contributed a fine one-handed catch.
Smith's absence meant an unexpected recall for Usman Khawaja, 24 hours on from the omission that seemed to signal the end of his career, and he grinded out 82 vital runs from number four.
But it was Carey's 106 that did most to bolster Australia's position. The wicketkeeper survived a big shout for caught behind on 72, uncertainty over the 'Snickometer' technology clouding the decision, but was otherwise resolute.
His glovework has attracted most praise but his first Ashes hundred, and third overall, changed the balance of the game. Coming to the crease at 94 for four, Archer having just dismissed Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green in the first three balls of the afternoon session, Carey led stands of 91 with Khawaja, 59 with Josh Inglis and 50 with Mitchell Starc, to halt the English charge.
Emotional Carey cherishes Ashes century
08:03 , Lawrence Ostlere”It was great to be out there with Mitch. The crowd, 56,000 in Adelaide, it is pretty special. To make a hundred here in front of home fans and family was special. I guess as well I was looking to the heavens.
“Trying not to tear up, but it was great. Mum, brother, sister, the kids. It was a great moment.”
Saker hails bowling star Archer
07:53 , Lawrence OstlereDavid Saker was impressed by Jofra Archer:
“I think he had a point to prove and I thought he sustained his pace today and really attacked the stumps well.
“A good performed but I thought it was backed up by everybody. I thought Will Jacks did a pretty job.”
Timings are out on technology, says Saker
07:49 , Lawrence OstlereEngland’s bowling coach, David Saker, has his say on the snicko incident in which Alex Carey escaped despite a spike before the ball passed the bat:
“There was obviously a spike but it was either really early or late. Our boys are really confident he hit, Jamie Smith behind the stumps is not the sort of guy who would be like that unless he thought that.
“But you’ve got the technology. We’re pretty confident he hit but he’d be the person to be asking. He did look guilty.
“That’s the technology and I think they need to make sure it’s working better than it did. Even the Patty Cummins one, there seemed to some timings out.”
Jofra Archer steps up for England
07:39 , Luke BakerJofra Archer has received plenty of criticism during this series but he was impressive today.
Speaking on TNT Sports, pundit Graeme Swann likes what he saw from the England quick
Stumps: Australia 326-8
07:18 , Mike Jones
Stumps: Australia 326-8
07:13 , Mike JonesMitchell Starc remains at the crease on 33 not out and is further cementing his place as Australia’s player of the series.
He’ll look to kick on and score some quick runs in the morning with Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland.
The temperature has been 35 degrees all day and England chipped away well all day.
A flat surface made things hard work and England did really well to take eight wickets having been forced to bowl first.
Usman Khawaja defies cricketing obituaries to seize unexpected chance in third Ashes Test
07:07 , Mike JonesReports of Usman Khawaja’s demise turned out to be greatly exaggerated as he seized an unexpected chance during the third Ashes Test in Adelaide.
Khawaja, who turns 39 on day two of the Test at the Adelaide Oval, struggled with back spasms during the opening match of the series – scoring just two runs in the first innings and then being unable to bat in the second.
Usman Khawaja defies cricket obituaries to seize surprise chance in third Ashes Test
Stumps: Australia 326-8
07:06 , Mike JonesYep.
Stokes to Lyon part two and it’s the same results. A maiden for the England captain.
England need two wickets in the morning of day two in order to get themselves batting and in the game.
Day one has perhaps gone their way but runs on the board is always a strong position to be in.
Honours even in truth.
Australia 326-8
06:59 , Mike JonesJofra Archer has six deliveries with the new ball. Can he get another wicket?
The first one is flung down legside and Starc misses it with a swipe.
The next four are all dots.
The final ball is full and targets the pads which Starc flicks away for four!
Time for one more over yet?
Australia 322-8
06:54 , Mike JonesEngland take the new ball immediately but Ben Stokes will take it and continue.
Nathan Lyon is on strike. How will this go?
There’s a bit of swing straight up but Stokes is too wide with it and doesn’t trouble Lyon.
Much too wide from Stokes and Lyon leaves the ball well alone in this over.
One more to go in the day.
Australia 321-8
06:50 , Mike JonesWill Jacks bowls the 80th overand Starc pushes him back for six dot balls in a row.
There’s 10 minutes in the day left. A couple of overs from Archer and Tongue maybe?
Australia 321-8
06:43 , Mike JonesNathan Lyon is the new batter. He probs the ball back four times in a row to give Jacks a wicket maiden.
Wicket! Carey ct Smith b Jacks 106 (AUS 321-8)
06:40 , Mike JonesAlex Carey walks off having top edged Will Jacks straight up into the air. Jamie Smith takes the catch but it doesn’t take the shine of a fabulous knock.
106 runs on his home ground and his first Ashes hundred.
The Aussie bowlers can have some fun now.
Australia 321-7
06:37 , Mike JonesCarey and Starc take their partnership to fifty runs and they’ve done a fine job of annoying England who were excited after the wicket of Cummins.
Three overs until the new ball and, probably, the return of Jofra Archer.
Australia 319-7
06:33 , Mike JonesThe batters continue to milk Jacks for singles and accumulate some easy runs.
It’s been a tricky day for England’s spinner and I’m surprised Ben Stokes hasn’t turned to Joe Root.
Four runs from this over.
Australia 315-7
06:29 , Mike JonesFour more for Starc.
He tries to hook Stokes away and gloves his shot past Jamie Smith and down to fine leg for a boundary.
Frustrating for the England captain.
Australia 311-7
06:25 , Mike JonesWill Jacks is back on to get through a couple of overs and get England closer to the new ball.
Starc and Carey work him away for singles and collect easy runs.
Jacks’s figures are: 17-1-101-1. He’s going for 5.94 runs an over.
Australia 307-7
06:21 , Mike JonesAlex Carey is on 101 and Mitchell Starc on 19. There are 40 minutes of play left today and they are going to decide which team has had the best day.
I think both batters will have a swing at England and if runs come quickly they’ll take the match away from the tourists.
England need one or two more wickets. Preferably all three.
Australia 307-7
06:20 , Mike JonesCarey has crawled towards this hundred, which perhaps shows how much it would mean to him.
He hooks Stokes away for a single and moves to 98.
With Starc on strike, Stokes tries to get him driving and finds an edge which doesn’t carry.
Starc takes one to bring Carey back on strike.
There it is! A push into the covers brings Carey three runs and takes him to three figures.
101 not out off 135 balls. A fine knock.
Australia 302-7
06:15 , Mike JonesEngland are now eight overs away from a new ball.
Alex Carey works Carse away for a single to move to 97. Adelaide is Carey’s home ground so this would be a big landmark for him.
At the other end, Starc is trying to accelerate the run rate and takes the Aussies over 300.
Australia 296-7
06:09 , Mike JonesHere comes Ben Stokes.
This is going to be a big spell for the England captain who will want to get this breakthrough and get his team in a good position.
Starc works him for one and brings Carey on strike. He needs five runs for a hundred.
Make that four as he pulls Stokes away to the fielder on the square leg boundary.
Australia 294-7
06:06 , Mike JonesThere’ll be an hour of play left in the day and England would hope to get all three of the remaining wickets.
Starc has other ideas and goes over cow corner for four runs!
Carey, meanwhile, is edging closer to three figures.
Starc decides to go after Carse again and drives him down the ground this time. It’s another four!
Australia 284-7
06:01 , Mike JonesTongue to continue for England.
He’s bowling at Starc who is patient and defensive. Tongue mixes things up with short balls and fuller deliveries but Starc backs his own ability.
Two runs from the over.
Australia 282-7
05:56 , Mike JonesFour runs! Carey punches Carse away through the clustered offside and finds the boundary.
That takes him into the 90s as well. Next up he swings heavily and almost finds Crawley but manages to evade him and sprint through for two more.
Carey takes one to bring Starc on strike and he goes after Carse only managing to pull one into the legside. Eight off the over.
Australia 274-7
05:50 , Mike JonesJosh Tongue continues and lets Carey have one so he can bowl to Starc.
Stokes brings the field up and puts in a slip. Tongue targets the stumps but Starc defends well enough.
Starc gets off the mark with a push down the ground for two runs.
Decent over from Tongue.
Australia 271-7
05:46 , Mike JonesMitchell Starc is at the crease and he’ll be confident after his heroics with the bat at the Gabba in Brisbane.
He defends the last ball of the over.
Wicket! Cummins ct Pope b Carse 13 (AUS 271 -7)
05:43 , Mike JonesYes!
Carse goes short to Cummins who fends the ball off to short leg where Ollie Pope clings on to a nice catch.
The Aussie skipper doesn’t think he’s hit the ball as it thudded into his thigh pad. He reviews but there’s a thin slither on snicko as the ball passes the bat.
Australia lose their seventh wicket.
Australia 269-6
05:38 , Mike JonesCarey is up to 85.
Stokes calls on Carse to come into the attack. Cummins is on strike.
Can England get themselves another wicket?
Australia 262-6
05:32 , Mike JonesJacks purposefully tempts Cummins to drive outside the off stump and the Australian captain takes it on.
He wins the battle and smokes Jacks to the boundary for four.
Cummins gets off strike and Carey decides to drill Jacks into the stands for six!
Australia 250-6
05:29 , Mike JonesCarey has had enough and dances down to throw his hands at Tongue. He flaps him over point for four runs but it’s a loose shot.
He takes one of the next ball and brings up the 250.
Australia 245-6
05:26 , Mike JonesAlex Carey swipes at a cut shot and misses it. Tongue and the slips all appeal but the umpire is unmoved.
England review and there’s nothing on snicko to suggest he’s hit it.
He survives. England lose another review.
Australia 245-6
05:23 , Mike JonesA better over from Jacks with just the one coming from it.
He’ll have a better time of things bowling at Cummins who decides just to block him out.
Australia 244-6
05:20 , Mike JonesEngland now need Carey. He’s into the 70s and is the big threat to go big with the tail.
Jacks is going to continue.
Wicket! Inglis b Tongue 32 (AUS 244-6)
05:18 , Mike JonesGot him!
Tongue gets the ball to nip back at Inglis, just enough to catch him on the glove and drop down onto the stumps!
England have their sixth wicket and Pat Cummins is coming out to the crease.
Australia 244-5
05:17 , Mike JonesJosh Tongue is coming on to replace Jofra Archer.
Can he strike to break this partnership?
Almost, he draws the edge from Inglis but the ball sails into the gap between slip and gully and brings four runs for the batter.
Australia 238-5
05:13 , Mike JonesJacks is coming round the wicket to Inglis in an attempt to change things up. Inglis nudges him away for one.
More singles for each batter. It’s too easy for them against Jacks.
As if to confirm that, Carey pumps the ball over cow corner for four runs.
Australia 231-5
05:10 , Mike JonesAnother maiden from Archer. He can’t have many more overs in him in this spell.
He’s bowled 15 overs today and taken 3-25.
Australia 231-5
05:05 , Mike JonesStokes is persisting with Jacks. This is a better start to the over as Carey needs three balls before getting off strike.
Inglis then wastes no time in smacking Jacks for midwicket for four runs!
Australia 226-5
05:02 , Mike JonesArcher gets a bit of extra bounce trying to target Carey’s body.
Carey handles it well and guides the ball to third man for a couple.
An inside edge brings him another run.
Australia 222-5
04:57 , Mike JonesAustralia are scoring freely from Will Jacks. Inglis in particular wants to take him on.
Ben Stokes, obviously, wants to get some overs through the spinner and some rest for his seamers.
It hasn’t quite worked out like that.
Jacks is dispatched for another nine runs in the over. His figures are 12-0-72-1.
Australia 213-5
04:54 , Mike JonesAnother great over from Archer with only a couple of singles from it.
England would have struggled today without him.
Australia 211-5
04:50 , Mike JonesJacks continues and is pushed away for one by Inglis.
Carey pulls Jacks away for a single of his own before Inglis plays another reverse sweep for four!
Two more runs come from the final ball. Another expensive over from Jacks.
Australia 203-5
04:46 , Mike JonesIs this a drop?
Carey rattles a drive to cover where Carse makes a great stop. The ball only just carries to him and it hits his left hand about an inch off the floor.
It doesn’t stick and will go down as a drop but instead it was just a wonderful effort.
Archer bowls another maiden.
Australia 203-5
04:43 , Mike JonesReview!
Archer hits Carey on the pad and goes up for an appeal. There doesn’t look like any bat is involved but it also looks like it’s going down leg.
England review the not out decision but the ball is missing and they lose their review.
Maybe they were trying to will themselves a wicket with that one. It seemed a bit hopeful.
Australia 203-5
04:40 , Mike Jones200 up for Australia. A reverse sweep from Josh Inglish finds the boundary and he follows it up with the same shot which brings one this time.
Jacks’ over goes for nine runs. That’s not the type of control needed to help Archer at the other end.
Australia 197-5
04:38 , Mike JonesIt is Jacks. He bowls to Carey who finely sweeps him down to fine leg for three runs and in doing so brings up a half century.
51 from 75 balls for the wicketkeeper.
Those are also the first runs of the evening session as well.
Australia 194-5
04:37 , Mike JonesArcher begins the evening session with a maiden. Can the next bowler back that up?
It looks as though it’ll be Will Jacks to continue...
Evening session: Australia 194-5
04:34 , Mike JonesJofra Archer starts the session as he has done with the previous two.
He’s been superb today taking three wickets for just 19 runs.
Josh Inglis faces up to him and defends the first couple of deliveries.
One session to go on day one with the game situation in the balance.
Tea: Australia 194-5
04:20 , Mike JonesAustralia scored 100 runs for the loss of three wickets in that session.
The game feels in the balance and England could do with two or three wickets in quick succession to help their aim of bowling Australia out cheaply.
An interesting evening session is coming up.
Tea: Australia 194-5
04:11 , Mike JonesWill Jacks will bowl the final over before tea. Josh Inglis is on strike.
He cuts the ball away for a single.
Carey deftly sweeps for a couple then takes one to leave Inglis two balls to see out.
He does and the players head in for tea.
Australia 189-5
04:07 , Mike JonesStokes is rolling the dice on a short ball tactic to Alex Carey.
The batter instead darts the ball into the offside for one instead.
For Inglis it’s a more traditional field with a couple of slips and a gully.
Inglis looks to pull Stokes away over leg and just manages to chip the two close fielders. He picks up three runs and Carey is back on strike.
He evades the remaining deliveries in the over.
Australia 185-5
04:03 , Mike JonesJosh Inglis comes in for 10 minutes before tea. Can England strike once more?
Jacks continues and gets a bit of bite and turn. Nathan Lyon will be happy about that.
Wicket! Khawaja ct Tongue b Jacks 82 (AUS 185-5)
04:00 , Mike JonesThat’s the wicket England needed.
Usman Khawaja can’t help but go after a slog sweep to Will Jacks.
He picks out the man on the boundary and Josh Tongue claims a good catch.
The door is ajar again for England now.
Australia 184-4
03:58 , Mike JonesBen Stokes is working away as hard as any England bowler.
He’s trying to do the dirty work here and keep his seamers fresh for a burst after tea.
Australia 183-4
03:53 , Mike JonesThree singles from Will Jacks’ latest over. Australia are ticking away without too much trouble.
There’s no help off the pitch for England and with 46 overs bowled they’re a long way from a new ball.
It’s toiling work for England. This partnership is up to 89.
Australia 180-4
03:49 , Mike Jones20 minutes to go until tea.
Australia are well set now. England need a break through.
Stokes goes up for another lbw shout but is turned down by the umpire.
Australia 168-4
03:47 , Mike JonesStokes finds the pads of Khawaja but he’s saved by an inside edge.
The England captain is just causing a few problems for Khawaja.
Australia 167-4
03:37 , Mike JonesBetter from Jacks who as found a nice length. Only a couple of runs from the over.
Australia 165-4
03:32 , Mike JonesStokes gets a short ball to rise more than usual and strikes Carey on the head.
The ball races away for four runs and there’s a break in play while Carey gets checked over.
Australia 160-4
03:27 , Mike JonesLovely from Khawaja.
He dances down the track to Jacks and smokes him back over his own head for four.
There’s a couple more singles before Khawaja advances again and collects two runs.
Nine runs come from Jacks’ over.
Australia 151-4
03:24 , Mike JonesStokes brings himself into the attack as well and hits Carey on the pads. The ball is going down leg and there’s a slight appeal, nothing more.
His return only goes for two runs but that is enough to take Australia past the 150 mark.
Australia 149-4
03:20 , Mike JonesBen Stokes decides it’s time for some spin and Will Jacks is brought back on.
He was expensive before lunch and the Aussie batters are likely to go after him again.
For now they work him away for a couple of singles. They are happy to just milk him for now.
Australia 146-4
03:14 , Mike JonesAustralia are also scoring at over four runs an over. The quick scoring rate is hurting England’s ability to maintain pressure.
The road of a pitch doesn’t help matters either.
Tongue chips away at the Aussies and restricts them to one run in the final over before drinks.
Honours even for the first hour after lunch. Who will win the second half of the session?
Australia 144-4
03:08 , Mike JonesFifty partnership!
Another rebuild from Australia and at a good pace too. This was always the worry for England, when they get a chance to seize control they haven’t taken it.
Khawaja 60*, Carey 30*
Australia 142-4
03:04 , Mike JonesEngland have lost a bit of control now with this partnership up to 48.
Khawaja has found more rhythm since passing fifty and Carey is scoring at almost a run per ball.
Tongue has switched ends and hasn’t been good. He’s a bit all over the place with line and length. Time for a change I think.
Australia 129-4
02:56 , Mike JonesA dab into the offside brings a half century for Usman Khawaja.
He was brought in this morning with Steve Smith ill, dropped on four by Harry Brook and brings up fifty in 81 balls.
A cool customer and one who will have his sights set on scoring big runs today.
Australia 128-4
02:54 , Mike JonesShort from Tongue, who has replaced Archer, and mullered by Carey for four.
Wisely, Carey then gets off strike and trades singles with Khawaja who moves to 49*.
Tongue is wide this time and Carey cuts him away for four.
It’s an expensive over this one and all the pressure on Australia is being released. Carey moves up to 26 from 26 balls.
Australia 116-4
02:49 , Mike JonesFour! Carey drives on the up and finds the gap against Carse.
The ball just beats Stokes to the boundary and the England captain almost reined it in.
Carse has been fuller in this spell but there’s not a lot happening for the bowlers off the pitch.
All they can do is maintain a good line and length and put pressure on by restricting the runs.
Carey takes another run off the penultimate ball of the over.
Australia 111-4
02:46 , Mike JonesJofra Archer keeps the pressure on by restricting Australia to just another couple of runs.
Khawaja is up to 48 but he’s crawling to his fifty here due to England’s control.
Australia 109-4
02:41 , Mike JonesBowling change. Brydon Carse comes on to replace Josh Tongue.
Unlike the morning session, he finds his length straight away and Stokes has spread the field to give him some protection on the boundary.
Khawaja pushes the ball through point for a run and then Carey plays and misses which gets England excited for half a second.
Carse goes for just one in the over. A good start for him.
Australia 108-4
02:37 , Mike JonesAlex Carey leans back and chips a shot over backward point for a couple of runs.
Archer then tightens his line and targets his body which restricts Carey’s strokemaking.
Only two from the over.
Australia 106-4
02:31 , Mike JonesJosh Tongue draws a false shot from Khawaja but he plays it with soft hands and the edge doesn’t reach Joe Root at first slip.
Khawaja then guides the ball down to third man for a couple and is within one hit of a half century.
He’s on 45* but there’s no release in pressure from Tongue with just two from the over.
Australia 104-4
02:27 , Mike JonesAlex Carey could be key for Australia here. Usman Khawaja will dig in and try to bat long but Carey has the ability to counter punch and score quickly.
England need to break this partnership as soon as possible to keep the pressure on the hosts.
Carey collects a couple then gets an inside off Archer trying to drive him through cover. The wicketkeeper is a bit frenetic at the minute.
Four runs come from the over.
Australia 100-4
02:22 , Mike JonesJosh Tongue is given the ball for the next over. He bowled well in the morning session without much reward - much like Gus Atkinson in the first two Tests - and was more controlled than Brydon Carse.
The pressure will mount on Khawaja now as the set batter.
He’ll need to dig in a bot here and get through a few overs. Two more wickets and England are into Australia’s bowlers.
This is a crucial session now for both teams.
Tongue bowls four dots before Khawaja manages to turn the ball into the legside for one. Carey cuts to point for one more and Australia’s hundred comes up.
Australia 98-4
02:18 , Mike JonesCarey cuts Archer away for four to get off the mark and ease some of the pressure.
England will be more than happy with that over however, two wickets and a change in momentum.
Wicket! Green ct Carse b Archer 0
02:15 , Mike JonesAnother one!
Cameron Green has to trot back to the pavilion after chipping Archer to midwicket just like Labuschagne did.
That’s two wickets in three balls and England have turned this momentum around in the first over after lunch.
Here comes Alex Carey...
Afternoon session: Australia 94-2
02:12 , Mike JonesJofra Archer has the ball in hand...
.... and gets a wicket!
Marnus Labuschagne chips the ball to Brydon Carse at midwicket with the first ball after lunch!
He’s out for 19 and England are back in this.
Australia's morning
02:06 , Mike JonesSteven Finn and Greame Swann are out in Adelaide for the TNT Sports commentary team.
Both say that England did okay in the morning session but Australia had the better of things.
Will things change in the afternoon?
Lunch of day one
02:00 , Mike JonesA tough morning for England. Can they respond in the afternoon session?
Ben Stokes looks to past experience to spark Ashes fightback
01:50 , Mike JonesBen Stokes is hoping memories of England’s Ashes comeback in 2023 can help spark another fightback Down Under.
Wednesday’s third Test at the Adelaide Oval is the first of three must-win games for a touring side who sit 2-0 down and have no more room for error if they are to succeed in bringing the urn back home.
On paper, it looks close to being an impossible task. The only Test team to overturn such a predicament was Donald Bradman’s fabled side of 1936-37 and England are on a winless streak dating back 17 Tests and 15 years on Australian soil.
Ben Stokes looks to past experience to spark Ashes fightback
Steve Smith out of third Test as England bid to keep Ashes series alive
01:40 , Mike JonesAustralia batter Steve Smith has been ruled out of the third Ashes Test in Adelaide with illness.
Smith, who captained the hosts to victory in the first two Test matches, was named in his side’s XI on the eve of the match but withdrew on Wednesday morning.
His omission was confirmed by Pat Cummins, returning to lead the side after a back injury, with Usman Khawaja recalled in Smith’s absence.
Steve Smith out of third Test as England bid to keep Ashes series alive
Lunch! Australia 94-2
01:30 , Mike JonesWill Jacks is milked away for three singles before Khawaja smokes another sweep shot into the legside for four!
Seven more runs come from the over and the players head off for lunch.
Khawaja is 41* and Labuschagne 19*.
Australia 87-2
01:26 , Mike JonesFifty partnership!
Australia looked in a little trouble at 33-2 and with two new batters but they’ve played the situation perfectly.
Just one chance given, Brook dropping Khawaja, and an additional 54 runs scored.
Australia’s morning so far with one over left before lunch.
Khawaja is closing in on a fifty of his own too. He’s up to 36 from 51 balls.
Australia 82-2
01:21 , Mike JonesOh here we go. Will Jacks is coming on to bowl some spin.
He’s been selected ahead of Shoaib Bashir and is immediately eased into the legside by Khawaja for two.
Jacks needs to bring some control for England to give his seamers time to rest.
Khawaja pushes him down the ground for one.
A full toss to Labuschagne allows the batter to drive it through cover for three. Runs are flowing here.
Khawaja sweeps for four! 10 runs come from the over.
Australia 72-2
01:17 , Mike JonesStokes continues. The work seems harder now for England, the sun is shining and the temperature is up.
The batters are set with Khawaja in particular looking comfortable.
He works the ball through midwicket for another couple of runs.
There’s also three singles from the over and the runs are coming again for the hosts. This partnership is up to 39 now, and counting.
Australia 67-2
01:12 , Mike JonesThere’s around 20 minutes left in the first session of the day.
Another wicket for England and it’ll swing in their favour but if these two get through Australia will take the advantage from the morning’s play.
Tongue strays short and wide, Khawaja punishes him with a strong cut shot and scores another four.
Australia 62-2
01:08 , Mike JonesDispatched!
Stokes strays with a short ball and Khawaja is onto the ball quickly. He pulls it away for another boundary.
These two batters have weathered some pressure from England and batting will get easier as the day goes on.
Shout!
After Khawaja gets off strike Stokes traps Labuschagne on the pads and there’s a loud appeal from England. Nothing comes from the umpire and Stokes signals that he thinks there’s an inside edge.
He’s right and decided against a review.
Australia 57-2
01:03 , Mike JonesKhawaja has brushed off the drop and whips Tongue away for four runs through midwicket.
A confident stroke from him.
Khawaja was dropped on 4 by Brook but now he’s into double figures.
It’s been a patient partnership from these two batters.
Australia 52-2
00:59 , Mike JonesDropped catches cost England heavily in Brisbane and that Harry Brook spill could have consequences going forward.
Tongue has bowled well and deserved a wicket but it wasn’t to be.
Stokes needs to keep up the pressure with Labuschagne on strike.
He bowls six dots in a row and gets Labuschagne driving which is what England want to see. Fine work from the captain.
Australia 52-2
00:55 , Mike JonesFifty up for Australia.
Khawaja plays the ball with soft hands and threads it past gully for a couple to bring up the first fifty runs.
Dropped!
There’s the chance that the pressure was building towards. Khawaja goes for the drive and gets a thick edge.
The ball flies to Harry Brook at second slip. He leaps to the left and gets two hands to the ball but it flicks out and Australia have a reprieve.
Australia 48-2
00:50 , Mike JonesOver the first 14 overs, there hasn’t been much danger from the pitch.
It’s fair and bouncy and good for batting. That makes it even more important for England to maintain a tight line and length.
Stokes angles the ball into Labuschagne who leaves it alone. The next ball is too straight and Labuschagne flicks him past the wicketkeeper for four!
That’s a release for the batters.
And again. Labuschagne leans into a drive and times it perfectly. There’s only a small gap at extra cover and it’s found wonderfully. Four more.
Australia 39-2
00:45 , Mike JonesTongue is getting the ball to slightly move away from Khawaja who is being watchful in letting the ball go through to the keeper.
Tongue goes for on in the over. This is nice work from England.
The runs are drying up.
Australia 38-2
00:42 , Mike JonesBen Stokes brings himself on to replace to Jofra Archer.
He’ll need to keep things tight and limit the amount of runs scored by this pair.
Adding pressure onto the batters will bring more wickets but England need to be controlled and patient.
Australia 37-2
00:33 , Mike JonesHello Josh Tongue.
Stokes makes his first bowling change now and Tongue comes on to replace Carse.
He’s bang on the money immediately and probes the outside of the off stump to Khawaja.
Khawaja is patient and lets most of the deliveries go by. A maiden for Tongue.
Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website
