Alex Carey perhaps didn’t expect to arrive at the Adelaide Oval just five minutes into the second session of the third Ashes 2025/26 Test. He sprinted into the middle after Australia found themselves in a hole, losing both Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green in the opening over after the lunch break against Jofra Archer. That was the time for Carey and Usman Khawaja to put up a decent stand.

And it did that exactly with Usman Khawaja and Head putting a 91-run stand for the fifth wicket before the latter got dismissed for his 82-run knock with the help of 10 boundaries at a strike rate of 65. However, Carey, who was the aggressive batter of the partnership, made sure that the hosts never got behind the eighth ball in the first innings.

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Carey finally celebrated his century off 135 deliveries and marked the occasion with a deeply emotional gesture. He removed his helmet and looked towards the sky in tribute to his late father, Gordon, who passed away on September 25 after a prolonged battle with cancer.

Alex Carey celebrates emotional maiden Ashes 2025/26 century

Carey’s wife, Eloise, whom he has been married to since 2016, was also present in the stands at the Adelaide Oval and broke down once he reaches his hundred. The wicket-keeper batter finally got dismissed for 106 runs in 143 balls at a strike rate of 74.13 with the help of eight boundaries and one six.

Watch the video here: 

"That one is for you dad!"

A wonderful moment as the hometown hero Alex Carey brings up 100.#Ashes | #PlayoftheDay | @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/aEdfwRedz5

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 17, 2025

“To be able to play a role in the innings today was great. I would have loved to score more runs and stay out there a bit longer, but being able to take the helmet off and look up to the heavens was a really nice moment.” An emotional Carey expressed in the press conference at the end of the opening day’s play.

Josh Inglis contributed with 32 runs in just 39 balls while Mitchell Starc remained unbeaten with 33 runs in 63 balls as Australia finished the first day’s play with 326/8 in 83 overs. Archer was the peak of the bowlers with 3/29 in 16 overs.