Jofra Archer Shines in Crucial Third Ashes Test as Steve Smith Sidelined by Sudden Illness

JOFRA ARCHER was far and away the best bowler as England enjoyed an encouraging opening day of the must-win Third Test.

Sussex speedster Archer finished with 3-29 – conceding his runs at fewer than two-an-over – as Australia reached 326-8 by the close at the Adelaide Oval.

Jofra Archer was the pick of the bowlersCredit: PA Steve Smith withdrew through illnessCredit: Getty

Alex Carey’s third Test century – and first in the – prevented having an even better day.

Carey came in at 94-4 after Archer had taken two wickets in the first over after lunch and played with skill and calmness.

Australia’s wicketkeeper was brilliant with the gloves in the Second Test at Brisbane and was now brilliant with the bat.

Carey finally perished for 106 when he top-edged an attempted big hit against Will Jacks and popped up a catch to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith.

England will be pleased with their efforts because the flat pitch meant the Aussies would have been looking for a first innings total beyond 450 – which now seems unlikely.

Apart from Archer, however, the other bowlers were wayward and expensive.

Brydon Carse went at more than five-an-over while conceded at more than four-an-over while part-time spinner Jacks’ 20 overs cost 105 runs.

Fortunately for England, several Aussie batters tossed away their wickets with the type of loose shots for which Ben Stokes’ team were so roundly criticised in the first two Tests.

Archer caused exasperation in some quarters for topping 150kmh in the Second Test in Brisbane when it didn’t really matter because Australia needed only 65 to win in their second innings.

even told him during a mid-pitch confrontation: “Bowl fast when there’s nothing going on, champion.”

But Smith wasn’t playing this time after failing to shake off the vertigo-related illness that had dogged him for the previous 48 hours. Symptoms of the illness are dizziness and nausea.

Left-hander , who is 39 on Thursday, was recalled in place of Smith and, batting at No.4 rather than his familiar slot at the top of the order, scored 82 before slog-sweeping Jacks to deep mid-wicket.

But Khawaja was dropped on five by at second slip – a straightforward and costly miss.

Archer did not reach the same speeds as he showed in the dying embers of the Brisbane Test but was quick enough and certainly accurate enough to trouble the Aussie batters.

Usman Khawaja knocked an impressive 82 on his return to the teamCredit: Getty Alex Carey took control of the Aussie innings with a brilliant centuryCredit: AP

He took the first wicket of the match when opener Jake Weatherald was inconvenienced by a short ball.

He tried a pull shot but succeeded only in popping up a catch to Jamie Smith.

Archer snared two more wickets in the first over after lunch when, amazingly, both and Cameron Green clipped catches to Carse at mid-wicket. They were very soft dismissals.

Green departed for a second-ball duck – quite a comedown from a few hours earlier when he’d been bought for £2.05million by Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League mini-auction.

Green will receive only £1.475million – still not bad! – because of a salary cap. The rest will go to help player welfare.

Carse was fortunate to keep his place when Tongue replaced Gus Atkinson from the team that lost the Second Test.

Again, he bowled too short and sprayed the ball more than England wanted.

But Carse collected a couple of wickets when was superbly caught by a plunging in the covers and then returning captain was held at short leg via bat and thigh pad.

Ben Stokes will be hoping to finish off the Aussie batters early on Day 2Credit: AFP

Tongue’s sole success came when he coaxed Josh Inglis into dragging a ball onto his stumps.

, England’s nemesis with both ball and bat in the series, finished the day 33 not out.