It's been a big couple of weeks for the Brisbane heat.

Not just for the capital-H Heat, who shocked the Big Bash with a post-season surge to bring the trophy home to the river city.

But just as it has in many an Australian city this summer, the lower-case heat has wreaked havoc in Brisbane. It has been fry-an-egg-on-the-driveway hot for weeks, and on the first afternoon of the second Test between Australia and the West Indies at the Gabba, it was typically roasting. 

That might have been in the mind of Windies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite when he won the toss and chose to bat, wisely forgoing the prospect of an afternoon in the field.

It subsequently might have been in the minds of the five West Indies batters who surrendered their wickets in the first session, when the sun was at its highest and being outside was a strain on human resolve.

And it was definitely on the minds of the Australian bowlers as the day unexpectedly lengthened on them, with accumulated fatigue taking its toll even after the temperature had dropped.

With the West Indies 5-64 at the dinner break, the Aussies were understandably planning for a swift end to the innings and retreat to the change rooms — and probably for a similarly simple stroll to victory — but were suddenly interrupted by something unexpected.

A partnership. Not just any partnership, but probably the most professional, determined and polished partnership the Australians have been faced with all summer.

Kavem Hodge and Josh Da Silva both showed glimpses of promise in Adelaide, before meekly passing their wickets in. In Brisbane, there was to be no surrender.

There was so much to like about this sixth-wicket stand, but the Test cricket purists would have been absolutely enamoured by how well the pair left the ball.

On a Gabba wicket playing few tricks, Hodge and Da Silva showed their teammates up with the shots they didn't play. They left on length, and they didn't get sucked in when the Australians dangled some width at them.

Only when the shot was fully there to be played, was it played. Hodge in particular drove the ball sensationally, square of the wicket, through the covers and straight down the ground.

Underpinning it all was a patient determination, a refusal to let the game, conditions or Australians beat them.

Da Silva fell twice in Adelaide to short balls, outing himself as a compulsive hooker with a technique that makes the shot a risky one in Australian conditions.

On the evidence of day one, he may have spent every waking minute between the Adelaide and Brisbane Tests working on that deficiency. Da Silva ducked, dipped and dodged with confidence, and any cross-bat shots he played were controlled.

And so as night fell on the Gabba, a crowd that had come for an Aussie procession instead stood and applauded a West Indies rearguard. It wasn't a patronising ovation either, but rather genuine respect and admiration for the innings unfolding.

The Australian bowlers never crossed over into frustration, but there certainly would have been a hint of confusion. They did not bowl badly, nor see chances missed in the field — they were just outplayed on this given night.

The only exception could be Nathan Lyon, who fought on through lengthy and fruitless spells without often troubling the batters.

It has been posited for a few Tests now that Lyon might be carrying an injury, or at least is still being hampered by the horrible calf tear from Lord's last year.

As television cameras picked up Lyon stretching and feeling at his right hamstring, before engaging in serious conversation with coach Andrew McDonald, those suspicions looked to be proven correct.

Still, whatever is troubling Lyon hasn't been enough to stop him bowling. Perhaps though it has been enough to stop him bowling well.

But even while hindered and below his best, Lyon still had the smarts to end the partnership, trapping Da Silva in front for 79. Hodge soon followed for his own 71.

Both men deserved centuries, but the important dirty work had been done. The West Indies passed 250 just before stumps and are on track to posting a properly competitive total.

That's the good news.

The bad news is that it's not going to get any cooler in Brisbane. In fact, the next two days are about to be absolutely disgusting, and the match-destroying rain that had been forecast looks like staying away.

This pitch looks fantastic for batting, and there are some Australians at the Gabba long overdue for a lengthy and prolific innings. With something now to chase after, they may yet find their best form right at the end of the summer.

At the close of play on day one, we had far more of a game on our hands than looked likely at its midway point. But one good day means little without more following it.

Da Silva and Hodge passed their mental tests yesterday, but even greater ones are coming for the West Indies.