Carey’s ton to give Australia upper hand in 3rd Ashes Test

An emotional Alex Carey slammed a controversial 106 on his home ground and Usman Khawaja hit a defiant 82 on Wednesday to put Australia in the driving seat of the third Ashes Test against England.

Batting after captain Pat Cummins won the toss as temperatures topped 36 Celsius at Adelaide Oval, the hosts were 326-8 at stumps on day one after the shock of Steve Smith being ruled out with illness.

Mitchell Starc was not out 33 and Nathan Lyon yet to score.

“To make a hundred here in front of home fans and family was special,” Carey said, although it was shrouded in controversy over a let-off on 72.

Carey conceded he likely edged a delivery from England quick Josh Tongue that was caught behind by Jamie Smith.

“I thought there was a feather or some sort of noise when it passed the bat,” he said.

“If I was given out I think I would have reviewed it, probably not confidently.”

He was given not out and England failed to have the decision overturned on review with replays showing a noise spike before the ball reached his bat.

The “snicko” technology’s operator, BBG, admitted to reporters after play there had likely been an error with England raising the matter with match referee Jeff Crowe.

“I don’t think we’ve done anything about it so far but after today, maybe that might go a bit further,” said England bowling consultant David Saker.

It overshadowed Carey’s maiden Ashes ton that saw him gesture towards the sky in a nod to his father Gordon, who died from cancer in September.

“I guess you know as well why I was looking to the heavens. I’m trying not to tear up. But, no, it was great,” he said.

A tireless Jofra Archer ended with 3-29 on a tough day for England’s bowlers in the field.

“I thought it was a good performance from our bowlers, the heat took us a bit by surprise,” said Saker.

“The boys toiled away.”

Khawaja reprieve

Australia lead the five-Test series 2-0 and will retain the Ashes if they win or draw, after back-to-back eight-wicket thumpings in Perth and Brisbane.

Smith, who has more than 10,000 runs, had been feeling unwell in the lead-up but was on Tuesday named in the side.

He was on the field during the morning warm-up but left 20 minutes before the toss shaking his head.

His absence gave an unexpected reprieve to Khawaja, who had been overlooked as opener in favour of Travis Head and Jake Weatherald.

Khawaja, who missed Brisbane after suffering back spasms in Perth, grabbed his chance in a stoic knock.

He was eventually out just before tea, slog-sweeping to Tongue in the deep off the spin of Will Jacks.

Carey picked up the mantle, first alongside Josh Inglis (32), then Pat Cummins (13), and latterly Starc, who once more showed his prowess with the bat.

Carey hit eight fours and a six in his third Test century, bringing up the milestone in front of family, friends and 56,298 fans -- the biggest cricket crowd ever at the venue.

Archer burst

A blistering first over after lunch from Archer had left Australia reeling at 94-4.

He removed Marnus Labuschagne for 19 with his first ball after the interval.

Two deliveries later Cameron Green was gone, with Brydon Carse collecting catches at midwicket to dismiss both.

Inglis and Cummins fell in the final session to Tongue and Carse respectively.

Players from both teams wore black armbands as a mark of respect to the victims of the Bondi Beach mass shooting.

A moment of silence was held before the game with security tightened and flags flying at half-mast.

At the start, Weatherald raced to 18 but his gung-ho approach cost him against the pace of Archer, who fired down a bouncer and induced a top edge to Smith.

Head followed next over for 10, with Zak Crawley taking a sensational instinctive catch low to his left off Carse.

Khawaja, on five, was fortunate to survive when Harry Brook dropped a sitter at second slip and went on to bring up his 28th Test 50 to big cheers.

Carey had another life on 52 when Carse put down a difficult chance in the covers and the 34-year-old made the most of it before falling when he top-edged Jacks to Smith just before the close.

Agence France-Presse