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Siddle upbeat despite challenging first day

The veteran paceman was buoyed by Australia's late fightback on the opening day in Dubai

Peter Siddle says spearhead Mitchell Starc is feeling no ill-effects following a frightening moment late on Australia's opening day of their two-Test series against Pakistan.

Faced with brutal heat and a lifeless Dubai track, Starc came back for an inspired late spell as stumps approached but pulled up lame in his penultimate over of the day and collapsed to the ground.

His teammates converged but the left-armer's only ailment was a severe case of cramping in his legs. After performing a quick series of stretches and guzzling down some salty beverages, he bravely returned to deliver the final over before stumps – his 21st of the day.

Siddle not concerned by hampered Starc

It was an effort that reflected Australia's spirited fightback in Sunday's final session, with the visitors taking 3-56 after the tea break following a dominant 205-run opening stand between Mohammad Hafeez and Imam-ul-Haq.

A smiling Siddle, Australia's most economical bowler with 1-23 from 15 dour overs, said Starc's breakdown was more humorous that it was concerning. 

"It's always funny for the other blokes out on the field to see one of your teammates cramping up," the veteran quick said of his pace partner. "He's feeling all right, just a little bit of cramp. He toiled hard.

"He was cramping from about an hour out (from stumps), he was struggling. 

"If we get a wicket late, especially if a tailender comes in, he's usually the man to get thrown the ball again. 

"It was great fight from him to finish off there and (he) got close but not close enough. He'll rest up tonight, he was fine coming off - just a little bit of cramp, which is always a good little laugh for the rest of the boys."

Day wrap: Hafeez hundred powers Pakistan

Fitness has been a priority of new coach Justin Langer since his appointment earlier this year and Australia have sweated through punishing training sessions since landing in the UAE two-and-a-half weeks ago.

Langer oversaw gruelling sessions where players sprinted with weighted sandbags above their heads in scorching temperatures before they were permitted to hit the nets.

With the mercury dipping ever so slightly below the 40-degree mark for the start of the Test series, Siddle said Sunday was a culmination of the fruits of their hard yakka.

"The first Test (back after a break) is always hard, you use up so much energy building up for that match, building up for that first leap," he continued. "Day one is usually the hardest because you're so hyped to get into it.

"To only go for (55) runs at the back end of a day when a team is none down at tea, that's a tremendous effort from the whole group to be able to restrict them to that.

"It's always a tough challenge going over to the different Asian conditions and digging in with the heat, but the boys handled it really well - today was one of the cooler days we've had since we've been here. 

"It was well-toiled by us and you look at it at tea time, it could've been a lot worse … To get wickets along the way, it showed the hard work's paying off."

Inside Australia's emotional Baggy Green presentations

Hafeez, whose 126 on Test recall helped Pakistan reach 3-255 at stumps, singled out Starc as Australia's most challenging bowler. 

But Siddle proved the most economical and his control was vital in allowing the likes of Starc, ace spinner Nathan Lyon and fellow tweaker Jon Holland, after copping some early punishment, to play more attacking roles.

His encouraging return after a two-year absence from international cricket was capped with the important scalp of Hafeez, trapped lbw by a reverse-swinging in-ducker.

Hafeez celebrates recall with comeback ton

While his comeback was overshadowed somewhat by the three new Test caps handed out at the start of the day, the Victorian said he'd never given up hope of pulling on his own Baggy Green again.

"I've always dreamed of playing for Australia again in the last few years, but I've concentrated on just performing wherever I played," said Siddle, who took 37 wickets in seven County Championship matches for Essex over the winter.

"Today was a nice reward for the time I've put in off the park and all the other teams I've played for in the last 18 months to get back out there and pull on the Baggy Green and walk out there with those three guys starting their journey." 

Qantas Tour of the UAE

Australia Test squad: Tim Paine (c), Ashton Agar, Brendan Doggett, Aaron Finch, Travis Head, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc

Pakistan Test squad: Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Usman Salahuddin, Yasir Shah, Shadab Khan, Bilal Asif, Mohammad Abbas, Hasan Ali, Wahab Riaz, Faheem Ashraf, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Hafeez

Sep 29 - Oct 2: Tour match v Pak A, Dubai

Oct 7-11: First Test, Dubai

Oct 16-20: Second Test, Abu Dhabi