Phil Hughes celebrated his return to the Test side by scoring an unbeaten 82 as Australia reached 3-193 at tea on day one of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Hobart on Friday.

Hughes, a former opener who has been recalled after a 12-month absence, came to the crease at 1-18 in his new role at No.3 and proceeded to hit eight fours and one six over long-on.

Skipper Michael Clarke, the leading runscorer in Test cricket in 2012, is seven not out after choosing to bat first in overcast conditions on a green-tinged pitch at Bellerive Oval.

Resuming after lunch at 2-97, Australia lost the wicket of Shane Watson for 30 in the middle session.

Opener David Warner had been run out in the final over before lunch for 57.

Ed Cowan fuelled speculation over his long-term future as a Test opener by top-edging a pull shot to mid-on as he was dismissed for four. He was dropped at third slip from the first ball he faced.

Hughes and Warner carried the score to 2-97.

Warner struck eight boundaries in his 89-ball 57 before setting off for a single in the final over of the opening session.

After punching the ball just wide of Angelo Mathews at point Warner called “yes yes no no”. But it was too late for Hughes who had committed to the run and kept coming, leaving Warner to be run out by several metres at the bowler’s end.

Hughes was caught behind off the bowling of Chanaka Welegedara on 77 in the 49th over, but the left-arm medium-pacer was called for overstepping.

Welegedara had success in his next over however as Watson fell to a diving catch by Mahela Jayawardene at second slip at 3-183 after an 86-run stand with Hughes.

Tasmania’s Ricky Ponting, Australia’s leading Test runscorer who retired earlier this month, was given a lap of honour at the lunch interval before heading to Melbourne to play for BBL team Hobart Hurricanes on Saturday.