Australia will resume their first innings in the fifth Ashes Test at the SCG on Tuesday hoping for another strong partnership from middle-order batsmen Michael Hussey and Brad Haddin.
Despite showing greater determination than at other times this summer after choosing to bat in bowler-friendly conditions, Australia ended a rain-shortened first day 4-134 following the dismissal of debutant Usman Khawaja for 37 off what turned out to be the final ball before stumps.
Khawaja's encouraging innings was a highlight but skipper Michael Clarke's dismissal for just four and the failure of openers Shane Watson (45) and Phillip Hughes (31) to make the most of starts meant the visitors hold an edge going into day two.
Needing a win to level the series 2-2, Khawaja felt nothing had been decided.
"It's hard to tell until the other team bats, that's just how cricket is," the 24-year-old said.
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"The game's probably at an even keel now and hopefully we put up a partnership tomorrow (Tuesday) and get a few runs on the board.
"Batting first is always putting pressure on the team batting second, so you just don't know until they bat."
English quick Tim Bresnan, who claimed Watson and Clarke to finish with 2-47, was confident the six remaining Australian wickets would come quickly if conditions remained suited to seam and swing bowling.
"If we get the weather yeah," the burly Yorkshireman said.
"I don't know the forecast or anything like that but I think there's quite a lot of wet stuff out there on the pitch.
"We'll just have to see what tomorrow brings."
Cloudy conditions are forecast for Tuesday, although the weather is expected to be a lot clearer than it was Monday when play was delayed three times and 31 overs were lost.
Play will get underway at 10am AEDT, half an hour earlier than scheduled, to make up some of the time.
