Rain played hide-and-seek in the fourth Test of the Ashes series, as resumption of play after lunch was delayed because of showers, with Australia having reached 98/2 in 26 overs.
Comeback man Steve Smith (28*) and Marnus Labuschagne (49*) were at the crease. Interestingly, Labuschagne came into the Aussie side as a concussion substitute for Smith in the second Test at Lord's, after the latter was hit on the neck by a Jofra Archer bouncer. Smith had missed the third Test because of delayed concussion.
The duo put on 70 runs to help Australia recover from the early loss of their openers on the first day of the Test at Old Trafford in Manchester. Stuart Broad's double strike, which included David Warner's dismissal for a duck and Marcus Harris (13), reduced Australia to 28/2.
Labuschagne was on the verge of his fourth successive Test fifty since coming in as Smith's concussion substitute.
Ashes-holders Australia were looking to bounce back from a stunning one-wicket defeat in the third Test at Headingley where Ben Stokes's 135 not out saw England level the five-match series at 1-1.
Australia captain Tim Paine took the bold decision to bat first after winning the toss, though both top orders have struggled this Ashes.
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But just four balls into the innings Broad, again leading England's attack in the ongoing absence of regular new-ball partner James Anderson, had Warner caught behind for nought as he tried to withdraw his bat—a carbon copy of one of the left-hander's dismissals earlier this series.
It was the fifth time Broad had snared Warner this series.
Harris had kept his place alongside Warner at the top of the order after Australia dropped the struggling Usman Khawaja.
But the left-hander fell for 13 when Broad trapped him lbw from around the wicket with a ball that nipped back.
Kumar Dharmasena eventually responded to Broad's prolonged appeal by raising his finger, with his decision upheld on umpire's call after Harris's review.
Harris's exit brought Smith to the crease for his first Test innings since Lord's, a match where he made 92 despite being struck by Archer.
Smith, who had scored 144 and 142 in Australia's 251-run win in the series opener at Edgbaston—his first Test since a 12-month ball-tampering ban—left his first ball, from Archer.
(With PTI inputs)