As it happened: Australia 3-187 at stumps after rain delays hit on first day

That’s all we have for you today everyone.

Thanks so much for joining us as Australia will head towards day two on 3-185.

They will have a chance to build a match-winning total on day two but this pitch should still offer Pakistan the chance to take wickets.

We will be back tomorrow morning with another live blog, please join us then.

Bye for now.

Shaheen Afridi of Pakistan checks on Travis Head of Australia after striking him with the ball.Credit: Getty Images

Here are a few pictures of fans still having fun today despite the almost three-hour rain delay.

Fan sit through the rain on Boxing Day.Credit: Chris Hopkins

Fans make their own fun during a rain delay.Credit: Chris Hopkins

Crowd members take shelter at the MCG as the rain falls on Boxing Day.Credit: Chris Hopkins

With a sure eye, soft hands and a deftly angled bat, Usman Khawaja defused a Shaheen Afridi outswinger in the first over of the Boxing Day Test. Deflected safely towards the turf, it slid away to the boundary to raise the first roar from an MCG crowd that peaked at 62,167 spectators.

If thwarted from wearing any of the humanitarian messages or logos he had workshopped over the past two weeks, Khawaja has still managed to balance the roles of opening batter and outspoken campaigner against unnecessary loss of life.

A man apart: Usman Khawaja on Boxing Day.Credit: Getty Images

Khawaja’s innings of 42, affording a platform later utilised by Marnus Labuschagne, was the focus of more observers than it might normally have been. This was due to two weeks’ worth of headlines about his continuing efforts to raise awareness of humanitarian values - something Khawaja took up after being emotionally affected by distressing scenes in Gaza.

First denied a request to wear shoes adorned with the slogans “all lives are equal” and “freedom is a human right” during the Perth Test, Khawaja donned a black armband, for which he was eventually reprimanded by the International Cricket Council.

Click here to read the story.

As much as Australia has plenty of potential match-winners in the middle and lower order, Marnus Labuschagne shapes as the key batter on day two.

He will start on 44 not out from 120 balls and has had the most time to adjust to the difficult conditions.

Marnus Labuschagne.Credit: Getty Images

You get the sense that if he can withstand the early overs, he could have a chance to push Australia’s total to a strong position.

Travis Head looked a promising touch in his late appearance making nine runs from 19 balls, with the rate he scores at. If he bats for a few hours on day two, Australia will surely be in a strong position.

While Pakistan swung the changes and put its focus into bowling Australia out with its medium-fast bowlers this match, their part-time spinner Salman Ali Agha was the surprise contributor on day one.

Salman, thrown the ball for the last over before lunch, snared David Warner with a delivery that the Aussie star admitted did more than he expected.

Salman Agha celebrates the wicket of David Warner.Credit: Getty Images

Salman was again thrown the ball for the last over before stumps and almost drew a similar wicket with Travis Head swinging with vigour at a wide, spinning ball and just managing to power it past second slip.

The MCG pitch often offers a little help for a spinner who knows how to use some bounce, it will be interesting to see whether Pakistan give him a few more overs on day two.

He finished day one with 1-5 from three overs.

Australia have made it safely to stumps at 3-187 and will have the chance to grow their total on day two.

Pakistan won the toss and batted first, they will be a little let down to only take three wickets on an active pitch.

Travis Head is hit on the back of the shoulder late on day one.Credit: Getty Images

But they could bounce back on day two with some early wickets given the pitch should still be doing a bit tomorrow.

Labuschagne is on 44 not out and Head on nine not out, both will have the chance to bat as long as they want with so many runs still in the offing.

Head swatted at a last over ball from Salman and it just went past second slip.

Aamir Jamal has had a rough end to the day with a wide that went for four and another wide.

He’s looked dangerous at times today and snared the wicket of Smith but his aim escaped him there.

Australia are 3-185 with about five minutes left in play.

As expected, play will move up to a 10am AEDT start on day two (tomorrow) to help catch up the overs lost today.

Play is due to end at 7pm AEDT tonight.

Pretty solid crowd for a game some feared might struggle to draw 50,000 fans with 62,167 turning up today despite the guarantee of rain.

If the game stays close, one would suspect the many Pakistan expats in Victoria could be drawn to coming on the other days too but time will tell.

The ball was going high and wide of the stumps so that could be a review Pakistan regrets although in their defence, it looked a good chance live.

Australia are 3-163.