Australia (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Alex Carey’s century and Usman Khawaja’s 82 lift Australia to 326-9, countering England’s early pressure on day one of the Adelaide Ashes Test.
As reported by Ali Martin of The Guardian, Adelaide Oval returned to familiar Test cricket after the chaos in Perth and Brisbane, with Alex Carey scoring a brilliant century on day one.
How did Alex Carey and Jofra Archer shape day one of the third Ashes test?
England, facing a 2-0 deficit in the series, remained resilient despite Ben Stokes losing the toss. His bowlers worked hard in 35°C heat, leaving Australia at 326 for eight from 83 overs, falling short of their potential after Pat Cummins’ decision.
Among England’s bowlers, Jofra Archer impressed with figures of three for 29 from 16 overs. His pace, averaging 88mph, kept Stokes in control and maintained pressure on the batsmen. Only in the final over with the second new ball did he appear slightly fatigued.
Following an early wicket of Weatherald, Archer’s first over after lunch removed Labuschagne and Green in three balls. Green’s duck served as a reminder of cricket’s unpredictability, despite his recent lucrative IPL contract.
Alex Carey’s innings peaked at 4.48 pm when he drove through the covers for three. His 106 from 143 balls steadied Australia after slipping to 94 for four, showing he remains a key figure in the team.
Australia left some runs unclaimed as the pitch offered less bounce than the first two Tests. Will Jacks took 2 for 105 from 20 overs, and some wayward deliveries could aid Nathan Lyon.
In the wake of Sunday’s Bondi attack, the match began with a perfectly observed minute of silence, as folk singer John Williams performed True Blue to honor the victims.
At this stage, the hosts were forced to alter their planned XI. Steve Smith withdrew after experiencing dizziness and nausea, marking a return of the vertigo that has intermittently affected him since being struck by Archer at Lord’s six years ago.
Usman Khawaja returned to the crease, a day after many had questioned the future of his Test career. Before Carey’s arrival, Khawaja had anchored the batting, reaching 82 from 126 balls after coming in at 33 for two. Crucial partnerships of 61 with Labuschagne and 91 with Carey helped stabilize the innings.
Reports from locals highlighted light-hearted suggestions for a farewell for Khawaja at the Sydney Cricket Ground, with him riding in the back of a ute in January.
The impact of the late call-up was evident, but so too was Harry Brook’s diving miss at slip, giving a reprieve on five.
A misfield at slip gave Khawaja a crucial lifeline, and he used the opportunity to settle into his innings. The left-hander quickly found his timing and placement, guiding 10 crisp fours with precision. His fluent display continued until just before tea, when, immediately after being beaten by Jacks, he executed a controlled sweep off the off-spinner into deep backward square.
Putting Archer aside, England’s bowlers struggled again, producing inconsistent results. Brydon Carse failed to build on his earlier form, taking two wickets for 70 from 13 overs, while Josh Tongue claimed one for 63 from 15 overs.
Carse’s new-ball spell started shakily, overstepping five times, but he dismissed Travis Head for 10, aided by a superb one-handed catch from Zak Crawley. The day combined moments of brilliance with occasional lapses.
How many test centuries has Alex Carey scored in Australia?
Alex Carey has scored two Test centuries in Australia. His first was against South Africa in 2022, and his second was against England today, December 17, 2025.
Century vs. England (December 2025)
- Opponent: England (3rd Ashes Test)
- Venue: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
- Match start date: December 17, 2025
- Score: 106 runs
- Details: Scored on Day 1 of the match to help Australia reach 326/8 at stumps. This was Carey’s first Ashes century and a “hometown” hundred in front of family and a record crowd
Century vs. South Africa (December 2022)
- Opponent: South Africa (2nd Test)
- Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Melbourne
- Match start date: December 26, 2022 (Boxing Day Test)
- Score: 111 runs
- Details: Carey reached his maiden Test century on December 28, 2022 (Day 3 of the match). He became the first Australian wicketkeeper to score a Test century since 2013 and only the second ever to do so at the MCG.
What happened in the Bondi Beach attack?
On December 14, 2025, a father and son carried out a coordinated mass shooting at a “Hanukkah by the Sea” celebration at Archer Park, Bondi Beach.
As a result of this attack, 15 people were killed, and nearly 40 others were injured. The victims ranged from a 10-year-old girl to an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor.
Attackers are Sajid Akram (50) and his son Naveed Akram (24). Sajid was killed by police at the scene, while Naveed was critically wounded, taken into custody, and later charged with 15 counts of murder and terrorism.
