With two days to play, Australia are in firm control of the first Test – holding a 300-run lead on a pitch that is starting to play a few tricks.

Australian batsmen Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith both required attention from the physios on day three as Pakistan’s quicks made the most of a quickly cracking pitch.

The next question facing Australia will be one of declaration – and how long they will wait before unleashing their own quicks on Pakistan.

Follow all the big moments from day four below.

DAY THREE RECAP: GOAT WAITS ON 500, MARNUS HURT ON DAY OF DRAMA

DAY FOUR LIVE

With Tim Michell

2.10PM: KHAWAJA SURVIVES ON REVIEW

Now Usman Khawaja is given out — but the review saves him.

Khawaja was hit on the pad by Jamal and to the naked eye it looked plumb.

But ball tracking shows it (just) struck Khawaja outside off stump and he will bat on.

“It is not easy out there,” says Ian Smith on Fox Cricket.

2.08PM: MARSH NOT OUT ON REVIEW

Boy, that was close.

Mitch Marsh was given not out on review after Pakistan thought it had the local hero caught behind first ball.

Marsh tried to pull his first ball from Jamal but it was a bit close, catching him on the forearm close to the glove.

However, the third umpire could not be convinced it took any glove and upheld Joel Wilson’s not out call.

2.04PM: HEAD CAUGHT

Now Travis Head is gone.

He throws the kitchen sink at a ball from Aamir Jamal and is caught at cover by a jumping Imam-ul-Haq.

Australia is 4-107 and leading by 323.

Maybe we won’t need to worry about when the declaration is coming after all…

1.36PM: SMITH LBW, UMPIRE’S CALL ON REVIEW

Steve Smith has to go after being given out lbw off the bowling of Khurram Shahzad.

He reviewed and replays showed the ball was clipping the top of the stumps.

Smith appeared less than impressed with the DRS call, shaking his head and looking toward umpire Joel Wilson on his way off.

One fan tweeted: “That is the most ridiculous lbw decision I have ever seen. The ball was going over the stumps and he is given out??? Since when??? Smith was NOT out.”

Damien Fleming said on SEN: “Logically you could argue it wouldn’t have dislodged the bails.”

1.25PM: ‘WHERE’S THE FEAR FACTOR?’ — PAKISTAN’S BIZARRE START

After all the talk about the pitch — and the success of Pakistan’s short-pitched bowling — Shan Masood chose to start the day with the part-time spin of Salman Ali Agha.

It was a decision which certainly raised eyebrows, with Damien Fleming telling SEN: “Where’s the fear factor?”.

1.05PM: LYON’S FOCUS NOT ON MILESTONE AS 500 LOOMS

Nathan Lyon says he was “pretty happy” for Travis Head to take the wicket which stopped him reaching 500 Test scalps on day three in Perth.

Head’s part-time off-spin took the 10th and final wicket of Pakistan’s first innings, leaving Lyon stuck on 499.

But the legendary off-spinner is likely to reach the mark today and join Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath in an exclusive club of bowlers.

“I was pretty happy for (Travis) as well. My big focus is obviously 10 wickets for the team,” he told Fox Cricket.

“If we can do that as a bowling unit that means we’re winning games of cricket. Obviously 500 is a nice little milestone, well it’s not little, it’s something I’ll be extremely proud about. But still a lot of work to do.”

12.30PM: MARNUS CLEARED AMID WORRYING PITCH FEARS

Marnus Labuschagne has been cleared of serious injury after being sent for scans following a nasty blow during the first Test.

The Australian No. 3 received medical attention after the little finger on his right hand was struck by Pakistan seamer Khurram Shahzad during the Queenslander’s brief innings on Saturday.

However it’s understood Labuschagne, though sore, has not been badly injured.

Steve Smith is also in the clear after being struck on the forearm while batting.

Both Labuschagne and Smith batted in the Optus Stadium nets before play on day four.

12PM: HAZLEWOOD’S GRIM PITCH-WARNING FOR PAKISTAN

Josh Hazlewood has warned Pakistan’s batters things are only going to get tougher from here on a Perth pitch providing plenty of encouragement to go short.Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith both required attention from the physios on day three as Pakistan’s quicks made the most of a quickly cracking pitch.

While a battered and bruised Smith made it stumps unbeaten, Labuschagne’s innings came to a close shortly after being struck on the right pinky and he was expected to have the digit scanned on Sunday.

“Batting looked pretty tough there at the end,” Hazlewood said. “As the game goes along I think the cracks will come more into play.”

“I think anyone who walks out there and bats is pretty brave,” he later added. “It’s probably going to get tougher to play the short ball than the first innings.

“The last innings Pakistan just sort of ducked under and knew it was going over the top. With the up and down movement that could be a play I guess in the second innings potentially. I still think there’s enough there on the front foot to take 10 wickets as well.”

11AM: HEAD’S SPIN ON DENYING LYON WICKET NO.500

When the part-time finger-spin of Travis Head tempted Shaheen Afridi into a doomed drive, a collective sigh was let out across the nation.

Saturday would not be the day for Nathan Lyon’s historic 500th Test wicket.

The off-spinner finished Pakistan’s first innings with figures of 3-66 and his career tally sitting at a frustrating 499.

He shouldn’t have to wait too long for a chance at No.500, with seamer Josh Hazlewood tipping an early declaration.

“For me, probably the general idea would be halfway through the day tomorrow (to declare), could be earlier or later but that will be the rough guide,” Hazlewood said after day three.

Touching on Head’s unwitting role in extending Lyon’s wait, Hazlewood said: “I think Travis said, ‘when they replay your 500th wicket you don’t want it to be a tailender, you want it to be a good wicket up the top (of the order).

“So we’ll see that for the second innings hopefully.”

9.30AM: EX-TEST CAPTAIN’S GRIM OUTLOOK FOR PAKISTAN

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has painted a bleak picture for Pakistan as it tries to fight its way back into the Test series against Australia.

Speaking late on day three as Australia’s lead neared 300, Vaughan said Pakistan had “given it everything” but still faced a significant fourth-innings chase.

And if his outlook is right, Pakistan won’t last long on day four when its turn comes to bat.

“I reckon that 271 was as well as they can bat,” Vaughan said on Fox Cricket.

“The way that the Australians bowled and I think they had a bit of fortune – there was plenty of balls that went past the outside edge.

“With the ball in the first innings, apart that first session, I thought they were very good.

“Yet they still trail Australia by 295. They’ve given it everything. Just a gulf in class.”

Mark Waugh said a Babar Azam hundred was likely the only way Pakistan could provide a greater threat with the bat.

Originally published as Australia vs. Pakistan Cricket Test Day 4: Team news, updates, live scores