Century-maker Phil Jaques expects the Gabba pitch to quicken up and suit batsmen as play resumes on Friday morning with Australia on 3-242 in the first Test against Sri Lanka.

Sent in to bat on Thursday on a Gabba greentop, Australia survived the difficult conditions early to lay the foundations for a big total after Jaques (100) scored his maiden Test hundred.

Mike Hussey, who was dropped on 13, resumes on 28 not out with Michael Clarke on five with play to start at 10.30am (AEDT) Friday after bad light ended play 11 overs early Thursday night.

Matthew Hayden (43) dominated an opening stand of 69 with Jaques then a 114-run partnership between Jaques and captain Ricky Ponting (56) put the world champions in a position to push for a big total as the wicket improves.

Sri Lanka's pacemen didn't fire a shot early and it was left to champion off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan (2-67) to lead the attack after lunch.

"Hopefully we can push on in the morning and ... really get a big score because the wicket is very good now," said Jaques, who is playing his third Test and first since the retirement of opener Justin Langer.

"I think it will get a little bit quicker as the game goes on," he said.

"I think it will get a little bit more pace and it might spin in the last two days.

"It will really spin for Stuie (MacGill) and hopefully we can get a really good platform, get through the new ball in the morning and then push on."

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