Australia closed the first day of the third Ashes Test at 326 for 8, thanks to a brilliant hometown hundred from Alex Carey and a composed innings of 82 by Usman Khawaja.
After being asked to bat, Australia faced early pressure from England’s pace attack under helpful conditions. Khawaja absorbed the challenge with discipline and patience, holding the innings together as wickets fell around him. His knock provided stability during the crucial middle phase before he was dismissed in the final session.
The day, however, belonged to Carey. Playing in familiar surroundings, the wicketkeeper-batter produced one of the finest innings of his Test career. He counter-attacked at key moments, rotated the strike smartly, and punished loose deliveries to keep the scoreboard moving. Carey’s century not only energized the home crowd but also rescued Australia from a potentially difficult position.
England’s bowlers remained persistent, picking up regular wickets to prevent Australia from running away with the game. Despite their efforts, Carey’s determination ensured Australia finished the day with a competitive total in sight.
With two wickets remaining, Australia will look to push the score further on Day 2, while England will aim for early breakthroughs before beginning their reply.