The Ashes – Third Test, Adelaide Day 1: Sliding doors slid in Adelaide on the opening day

 

 

 

 

By Dan Lonergan

 

On a hot Adelaide day in front of a massive crowd of over 56,000, the party Test got underway. Lots of people were watching the cricket but with magnificent marquees out the back, there was also plenty of socializing at one of the best venues in the world.

Boxing Day at the MCG is similar to that with many people spending the whole day in the plethora of bars if lucky enough to be in the members without watching a ball.

However, you would have been silly if you missed too much cricket on the first day of the Third Test as it was fascinating with Australia batting first and finishing with a tidy 8/326. Every player dismissed scored except Green, who was out second ball playing a poor shot.

Starc on 33 continued his special series will resume tomorrow with the stonewaller, Lyon back in the team with Cummins has faced 16 balls without scoring.

There was drama in the Australian camp about an hour before play, with Steve Smith forced out with a type of Vertigo causing balance issues.

It meant Usman Khawaja, who was told yesterday he would not be playing and it seemed his Test career was over.

However, in a sliding doors moment, Khawaja received an early birthday present as he turns 39 tomorrow December 18^th by being included.

He would bat at number 4 as a direct swap for Smith with Weatherald and Head remaining as the openers after three good partnerships in a row.

England dropped Atkinson for Tongue, with Pope retained despite his reckless batting.

Australia started brightly with Archer and Carse again too short, especially Carse who tries hard and took three excellent catches today to keep England in the match, but to me doesn’t think when he is bowling, He just bangs it in too often and hopes for the best.

Archer though picked up his speed and in his fifth over was approaching and even exceeding 145 ks and reaching 150 and that pace was too much for Weatherald with his crouched stance who on 18 got a short quick one, which he couldn’t control and ballooned it to Smith.

That is three times the new Australian Opener has been dismissed by Archer and on each occasion, he has been too quick for the ex South Australian and now Tasmanian, which could be a concern for Australia for the rest of the summer.

Then in the next over, Head was his usual expansive self drove in the air, but was brilliantly caught in one hand by Crawley. England’s catching was superb today as they caught some rippers, dropping just one slightly difficult one by Brook in the slips.

It seemed they prepared properly and not over prepared with their catching and fielding drills!

Khawaja looked fresh and played well. He actually lapped Labuschagne score-wise as they put together a good partnership in the last hour before lunch.

However, straight after lunch, Archer struck twice in one over and they were loose shots by Labuschagne and Green two balls later both perishing at mid wicket.

Khawaja was then joined by Carey and the two sliding moments of the day resurrected  the Australian innings for the rest of the day before Khawaja, who had hardly played a false shot holed out in the deep with another stellar catch by Carse, this time low to the ground.

This innings by Khawaja has taken his Test career off life support I reckon and probably allows him to end his time as a Test cricketer, which is expected to be after the Sydney Test in the new year on his terms.

Inglis and Carey then added the third 50 run stand of the day before Inglis, who  is one of the few specialist batters I can remember in 148 years of test cricket to come in at number 7 was bowled by Archer, who continued to bowl well and fast, with that pillow he brought to one day of the Gabba nowhere in sight.

The last specialist batter for Australia if my memory serves  me right who batted at seven made a century on debut almost to the day 55 years ago at the WACA against England. His name the great, Gregory Stephen Chappell.

Mind You! Australia only had three specialist bowlers in that match and Chappell did bowl 24 overs, but I think he can be claimed as a specialist bat.

England in the heat kept at it and another clever catch at short leg by Pope saw Cummins first act in this series come to an end.

While this was happening, Carey passed 50 again and got support once more by Starc and to the delight of his home town crowd, Carey made his third Test hundred and he looked to the sky, with tears in his eyes to acknowledge his late father, Gordon who passed away in September.

He was eventually dismissed top edging Jacks, who also passed the ton but with bowling figures as he and Carse both went at more than six an over.

Carey in my opinion is now one of the best cricketers in the world. His wicket keeping is flawless and he has three Test centuries and an average in the mid 30s. He has contributed many fine innings since his debut in the previous Australian Ashes series back in 2021.

Carey as well as the sliding door sliding the right way can also thank AFL legend, Kevin Sheedy in some ways for his outstanding cricket career. I better be more accurate and say he can thank him indirectly,

Carey was a star dual sportsman as a junior being an excellent footballer as well and chose that initially as a professional sporting career.

It started well too as he was the first captain of the GWS Giants before they joined the AFL. He led the team with all their talented youngsters in the TAC Cup under 18 comp.

He won the Giants’ B and F that season and played well in 2011 as well, but when the squad for their first AFL season in 2012 was chosen Sheedy, who was GWS’ first senior coach, told him, sorry Son! I don’t think you will make it. Why don’t you back to wicket keeping.

As usual tremendous advice from ‘Sheeds’ although Carey returned to Footy and Glenelg in the SANFL first up, before moving across to cricket and the rest is history.

He was criticized, I believe unfairly for running out Bairstow in that infamous incident at Lord’s in the second Test of the 2023 Ashes campaign and there was even pressure that he might lose his spot around that time to Inglis as his batting was struggling.

However, fast forward two and a half years and he can retire when he wants as a great, but hopefully not for several years yet.

Overall a great day’s cricket with Australia marginally in front and Starc with Lyon and Boland hoping to keep England out in the searing heat tomorrow for as long as possible  where the temperature is expected to hit a sizzling 39 degrees.

Then England get to bat and let’s see if they have adjusted their batting style and prepared properly and not over prepared after days of sun and surf in Noosa!!!

 

 

ESPN Cricinfo Scorecard

 

 

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