NEW DELHI: Skipper Ben Stokes led England's fightback in the third Ashes Test against Australia in Adelaide, rescuing his team from a precarious position with a patient 83-run innings in the first innings.

He breathed new life into England's Ashes campaign on the morning of Day 3 with a record 106-run ninth-wicket partnership alongside Jofra Archer, reducing Australia's first-innings lead to just 85.

What drew attention, however, was his reaction after being bowled by star Australian pacer Mitchell Starc, who produced a near-unplayable delivery that slipped through the gap between bat and pad.

The wobble-seam delivery cut back sharply from over the wicket, finding the gap and beating Stokes on the inside edge as he collapsed across his stumps. Frustration was clear on Stokes' face, as he rued taking the wrong option in that moment.

England's revival

After losing the first two Tests in Perth and Brisbane by eight wickets and allowing Australia to post 371 in the first innings, England's chances of keeping the series alive seemed remote when Stokes went to the crease on Day 2 with the total at 71/4.

But he batted for almost two full sessions in the heat and was 45 not out from 151 deliveries by stumps Thursday, sharing a pivotal stand with No. 10 Archer after England were on the verge of collapsing at 168/8.

He resumed Friday with England at 213 for eight, still 158 behind.

Australia wanted to clean up the last two wickets quickly but Stokes and Archer, who took a five-wicket haul when England was bowling, dug in.

Stokes stepped down the wicket to Scott Boland for a driven boundary to bring up the 50 partnership off 89 balls, then raised his half-century with a single off 159 deliveries. It was his slowest 50 in Test cricket - his 37th - but vital for his team.