England eked out four Australia wickets between breaks for rain and bad light on day one of the fifth Test at the SCG.
Phil Hughes saved the tourists from a rare wicketless session in this winter's Ashes, when he fell to the last ball before lunch, and England struck a second time with what turned out to be the final delivery before an early end - Graeme Swann grabbing the important wicket of debutant number three Usman Khawaja.
Australia finished on a total of 134 for four when rain moved in by mid-evening to force an early close.
Three home batsmen - Hughes, Khawaja and Shane Watson - all got set but were dismissed between 30 and 50, and it was England who could be happier with their day's work.
Watson and Hughes guided the hosts safely to 55 without loss, after stand-in captain Michael Clarke had chosen to bat first, until the left-hander fenced a catch high to third slip Paul Collingwood off the deserving Chris Tremlett.
A second half-century stand followed between Watson and Khawaja. But the opener - who had left expertly throughout - then followed one from Tim Bresnan that he perhaps need not have, and edged to Andrew Strauss at first slip.
A noisy, and mixed, reception greeted Michael Clarke's walk to the crease. He responded with a push through cover for three off Bresnan first ball but could add only one more either side of a first rain break before guiding a routine catch to gully off the same bowler.
It was perhaps a bigger blow to home hopes, however, when Swann saw off Khawaja in the first over of his second spell - the left-hander mistiming a sweep which looped to backward square-leg.
Within seconds, Khawaja was being followed off the pitch by the remaining players - as rain began to fall and, after a delay, a premature end was called to the day.
