Holland strike gives Aussies hope in Dubai

Recalled spinner Jon Holland has claimed the late scalp of Pakistan danger man Azhar Ali to half the hosts' dominance in the first Test in Dubai.

The key wicket in the fourth-last over on Sunday left Pakistan 3-255 at stumps on day one with Haris Sohail (15) and nightwatchman Mohammad Abbas (one) at the crease at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Returning to the venue where he plundered 302 not out against West Indies in 2016, Azhar had loomed as a major threat after Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat on a road of a pitch.

But he inexplicably threw away his wicket on 18, badly mistiming an attempt to hit a Holland delivery over the boundary and holing out to a diving Mitchell Starc at mid-off.

Openers Mohammad Hazeef (126) and Imam-ul-Haq (76) earlier combined for a 205-run stand to leave the hosts in a commanding position.

Pakistan went to tea at 0-199 but their scoring slowed to a crawl after Nathan Lyon broke the drought in the second over of the final session, luring Imam (76) into a false shot with the faint edge well held by Tim Paine behind the stumps.

Veteran workhorse Peter Siddle (1-23) then trapped Hafeez lbw with the decision confirmed on review.

Siddle's fitness helped to secure his return from a two-year Test exodus and his spell of 1-4 off five overs in the late-afternoon sun only reinforced his value.

"To win a Test match here its always a long haul, so you've got to dig in," he said.

"In the first two sessions they dug in and put us under a lot of pressure. But to finish strong, that's credit to us and it gives us a good platform starting out tomorrow."

Azhar survived two Lyon scares prior to his dismissal - the first a review for lbw, with replays showing the ball was pitching well outside off stump, and the second a big appeal for a catch at bat-pad which appeared to miss his blade.

With the temperature nudging 39C at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Hafeez and Imam had it all their way in the first two sessions with a dropped Mitch Marsh catch on the boundary Australia's only real chance.

Hafeez was on 74 when he sliced a Holland delivery to long-off but Marsh couldn't hold his attempt at an AFL-style mark.

Another loose shot from Hafeez the following over gave Australia some hope but the 37-year-old settled and reached his century shortly before tea.

Hafeez was overlooked from Pakistan's original 17-man squad and had not played Test cricket in more than two years.

Spin duo Lyon (1-63) and Holland (1-72) shouldered the bulk of the workload with Starc and Siddle both appearing to struggle at times in the punishing conditions.

Starc (0-66) found reverse-swing late and continued to ask questions of Pakistan's batsmen but battled cramp in his second-last over.