Bichel watches as Lee drops Kallis

"It's about building pressure. If we can break the partnership out there now, that will be the key to their batting and also to keeping them down to a reasonable total."

Both openers were gone for 36 after Australia's three pace bowlers applied the pressure with tight line and length.

Boeta Dippenaar, who kept his Test spot with a century against New South Wales last weekend, was out for the second time in the series to a blinding catch.

This time Matt Hayden at gully flung out his right hand to pluck a diving catch to give Brett Lee Dippenaar's wicket for 26.

"Ricky Ponting said Matty's was the catch of the season, even better than his one on Dippenaar in Adelaide," said McGrath.

Lost time

Kallis had two early lives. Ponting got a hand to a hard chance in the slips when Kallis was on six and just after last drinks Lee put him down on 11 when he hooked Andy Bichel to fine leg.

Lee did well to get to the ball, but distracted by his close proximity to the boundary rope he spilt a running chest-high chance.

The Boxing Day Test is regarded as the showpiece of the Australian cricket calendar but it has a history of abysmal weather and a crowd of almost 62,000 once again endured the worse of it on Wednesday.

Play will start half-an-hour early on Thursday and finish 30 minutes later to make up some of the lost time.