Mohammed Siraj copped boos from the fans, who get their money back as rain restricts day one to just 13 overs, but there was still time for Australia’s openers to impress.

Here are the quick hits from the first day at the Gabba.

1. The rain returns

The rain hammered down in Brisbane overnight and the clouds were thick as the crowd started arriving at the Gabba on Saturday morning, but by the time play actually started it did so in some welcome sunlight.

That didn’t last long though, as the rain returned after just five overs. 

A few balls later, as the umpires hesitated to take the players off for the light but increasing downpour, Australia opener Usman Khawaja refused to face up to Mohammed Siraj and it became untenable.

The players were forced off the field for the first time on what was immediately shaping as a frustrating day of watching weather maps.

The second delay was far more severe, wiping out the entire second session as the Gabba turned into a lake, and the rounds surrounding the ground into raging rivers of water, as warnings were issued for flash flooding.

2. Brief but still the best

First-innings opening partnerships haven’t really been a thing in this series.

Coming into the first day at the Gabba, the best stand for the first wicket in the first innings of a game in this series was Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney’s 24-run effort in 10.6 overs in Adelaide.

By the end of the 10th over in Brisbane, the former Queensland teammates had the biggest opening partnership. 

By the end of the 11th, it was the longest too.

Although, there was still some work to do to catch Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul’s 201-run stand from the second innings in Perth for the biggest of the series.

3. Ashwin dropped

India made three changes from the team that won in Perth for the last Test in Adelaide.

And now they’ve made a couple more for this Gabba Test.

Ravichandran Ashwin bowled 18 overs in Perth for 1-53, scoring 22 and 7 with the bat, but was dropped for Ravindra Jadeja for this Gabba Test.

Harshit Rana also paid for his wicketless and run-less return in Adelaide, being replaced by Akash Deep.

That means India, in three Tests, have used 16 different players.

Australia, meanwhile, have used just the 12, opting to bring back Josh Hazlewood after a side-strain kept him out of the pink ball Test.

4. Mohammed Siraj booed

Mohammed Siraj and Travis Head may have buried the hatchet after their controversial and confrontational send off in Adelaide.

But the crowd in Brisbane were not so forgiving.

The Gabba roundly booed Siraj when he came on to bowl for the first time in the day, as the capacity crowd embraced India’s new pantomime villain the only way they know how. 

5. Rain refund

For the tens of thousands of fans that turned up to the Gabba, the rain delay was hugely disappointing. But once it started, and stayed around, many of those paying customers surely started cheering for the players to stay off the park.

You see, if 15 overs are played, that’s deemed as good as a full day’s play. Anything less, and fans are entitled to a refund of their ticket.

When the players went off for a second time at 11:50am AEST, 13.2 overs were bowled.

Fortunately for the fans, the rain prevented the final 10 balls from being bowled and, while they didn’t see the cricket they hoped for, at least they weren’t out of pocket for their trouble.

If you did buy a ticket, check your email.

The biggest Australia-India moments

Throughout the summer, we’ll look back at some of the best stories and share our own favourite moments from Australia and India’s cricket history.

Join us to continue the conversation on our live blogs and on the radio over the summer before the readers’ top 10 is revealed ahead of the fifth Test at the SCG from January 3.

Select five options to make sure your vote is counted.