Alex Carey’s sparkling century helps Australia recover from early England Ashes onslaught

Australia ended the opening day of the third Ashes Test on 326 for eight after winning the toss.

Australia's Alex Carey celebrates reaching his century on day one of the third Ashes Series 2025 test at the Adelaide Oval. Pic: Robbie Stephenson/PA Wire.

After the pandemonium of Perth and Brisbane’s pink-ball palooza came an outbreak of more familiar looking Test cricket at Adelaide Oval. For the locals it was one to savour as their boy, Alex Carey, delivered a sparkling century at his home ground on an opening day that Australia edged.

Not that England, 2-0 down and clinging on in this series, could be too downbeat. Ben Stokes had lost what appeared an ominous toss and, though far from perfect, his bowlers kept plugging away in 35C heat. At stumps Australia were 326 for eight from 83 overs – runs on the board but surely short of ambitions when Pat Cummins got the choice first thing.