The talk leading up to the Dubai Test had been all about spin.

But it is pace which has been Australia’s key weapon on day one of the first Test against Pakistan.

Pakistan have however taken the honours, reaching 4-219 at stumps after choosing to bat on a dry, slow-paced pitch on Wednesday.

Younis Khan has top-scored with a splendid 106.

Australia’s attack was led by pace bowler Mitchell Johnson who claimed 3-22 off 20 overs including 13 maidens.

Spinners Nathan Lyon and Steve O’Keefe failed to break through, although they are expected to find the pitch more to their liking in Pakistan’s second innings.

Misbal-ul-Haq will resume on Thursday on 34 and Asad Shafiq is nine not out.

Lyon was causing Shafiq problems with sharp turn and lbw appeals in the final over of the day in a positive sign for the offspinner.

Pakistan had crawled to 3-125 at tea.

Mohammad Hafeez (duck) and Ahmed Shehzad (three) fell before the home side reached double figures.

Hafeez provided comedy value for the Australia side by calling for a video review of his dismissal, after the ball struck him on the foot in front of middle stump.

Younis and Azhar Ali (53) added 108 for the third wicket.

Azhar was almost Johnson’s second victim shortly before lunch when he drove to point where Chris Rogers grassed a low chance.

Johnson finally got his man when Azhar was caught by Alex Doolan at short cover.

Younis, on 99, reached his 25th Test hundred and first against Australia with a six off the bowling of spinner Nathan Lyon in the 80th over.

Younis hit 10 fours and one six off 223 deliveries, falling in the next over as Australia struck immediately with the second new ball.

Johnson trapped the veteran of 92 Tests leg-before in a key breakthrough.

It was the second time on Wednesday that left-armer Johnson had struck in the first over with the new ball.

Johnson’s new-ball partner Peter Siddle took 1-27 off 17 overs and also put in a solid performance on a dead track.

About an hour before play began, an emotional former Test vice-captain Geoff Marsh presented his 23-year-old son Mitchell with his baggy green cap in a touching moment before play.

NSW spinner O’Keefe, 29, received his cap from ex-Test batsman Dean Jones as the team huddled around the new boys in an on-field ceremony.

Geoff Marsh also presented son Shaun with his baggy green cap for his Test debut in Sri Lanka in 2011.