Australia vs Pakistan 1st Test Highlights: Australia win by 360 runs on day four

Another thing to note here is the widening of the cracks. That's one thing in Perth - be it the WACA or the Optus. Toss becomes massively crucial. Things could have been totally different had Pakistan batted first here, got above 300 and then tested the Aussies out in the second and fourth innings. Of course, that takes nothing away from the way Oz batted. But once you lose the toss here, you need to restrict the opposition under 300 in the first innings to try and maintain parity. Batting traditionally gets more and more difficult as the days go by on this pitch. So, from that aspect, the mental fortitude comes into play. The Pakistan batters would be mindful regarding the cracks and about how that one ball would have their number on it. 

Interesting how certain observations pan out. There was this incident which occurred on 14.1. Babar Azam had punched the ball through the covers and there was an easy single available. But the former captain denied it. Result - it allowed Cummins to maintain that hanky. Small things in cricket but those which matter a lot. Had Babar taken that single, who knows, Pakistan would still have had 7 wickets in the tank.

For Australia, they did what they're known for and pressed Pakistan by taking early wickets. Starc plucked two, Cummins and Hazlewood with one each having the Aussies eyeing a comprehensive victory at the Optus. Will Pakistan resist the Aussie pace battery or will the hosts pack the visitors and register a comprehensive win today itself? An interesting final session of Day 4 coming up shortly. Join us at 12.50 pm IST (7.20 am GMT) to catch all the action in the final session of Day 4.

Following the declaration, Pakistan had their backs against the wall and their situation worsened as they lost both their openers cheaply against Mitchell Starc's initial onslaught. They didn't give the visitors a single opportunity to settle and stitch partnerships as wickets kept falling at regular intervals. It further deteriorated with Babar Azam going cheaply back into the hut.

Earlier, Australia, with their attacking batting, piled up a huge target of 450 for the visitors, thanks to Usman Khawaja's 90 and the local boy Mitch Marsh's 63, which put the hosts in a commanding position. They played like the defending champions of the WTC. Khurram Shahzad was the lone warrior from Pakistan who plucked three scalps.

It's time for a breather as the players take Tea on Day 4. It was surgical precision from the captain, Pat Cummins, in that over to Babar Azam, wherein he got his man. He landed the ball on a hanky, as in, created a patch around the good length area where he consistently honed it ball after ball and on the wicket ball - BOOM - it reared off a length and took the outside edge.

Pat Cummins to Saud Shakeel, FOUR! Fine shot! Pat Cummins lands this back of a length and around off, Saud Shakeel stands tall and punches it with sweet timing through cover-point for a boundary. THAT WILL BE TEA ON DAY 4!

Pat Cummins to Saud Shakeel, Pat Cummins bangs in a bouncer now, on middle, Saud Shakeel ducks under it.

Pat Cummins to Sarfaraz Ahmed, Back of length yet again, pitching on off, shaping it towards middle. Sarfaraz Ahmed stays back in his crease and glance it from the right of short leg for a single.

Pat Cummins to Sarfaraz Ahmed, BEATEN! Pat Cummins serves this a touch fuller and just around off, straightens again, Sarfaraz Ahmed has a poke at it but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Pat Cummins to Sarfaraz Ahmed, Back of length on off. Sarfaraz Ahmed gets behind the line to defend it down the ground.

Pat Cummins to Sarfaraz Ahmed, On a length and around off, Sarfaraz Ahmed pushes it towards covers.

Nathan Lyon to Saud Shakeel, Tossed up, outside off. Saud Shakeel goes behind the line to block it outside off.

Nathan Lyon to Saud Shakeel, Slower through the air, full and around middle, Saud Shakeel is solid in his defence again.

Nathan Lyon to Saud Shakeel, Flighted delivery outside off. Saud Shakeel defends back to the bowler.

Nathan Lyon to Saud Shakeel, Flatter, full and outside off, Saud Shakeel leaves it alone.

Nathan Lyon to Saud Shakeel, Quicker, full and outside off. Saud Shakeel comes down the track to loft the ball over the cover. But the ball hits the legs of silly point, Marnus Labuschagne, as he jumped when he saw the batter shaping to hit big.

Nathan Lyon to Saud Shakeel, Tossed up, full and on middle, Saud Shakeel prods and blocks it back to the bowler.

Sarfaraz Ahmed is the next man in at number 6, replacing Babar Azam, with roughly 5 minutes to go for Tea.

Pat Cummins to Babar Azam, OUT! EDGED AND GONE! The skipper strikes with a jaffa and gets the big fish, Babar Azam! Cummins hits the hard length this time, angles in and then straightens a shy bit, Babar Azam gets drawn forward to block but the movement and extra bounce takes the outside edge and flies behind where Alex Carey takes yet another catch. Pakistan four down now and in all sorts of trouble!

Pat Cummins to Babar Azam, Back of a length and on off, Babar Azam punches it towards short covers.

Pat Cummins to Babar Azam, Good length ball yet again just outside off. Babar Azam plants his front foot to block the delivery to his off side. Babar wants to take a single but Saud Shakeel shouts NO! Good call from Saud Shakeel as the mid off fielder was ready to charge at the ball.

Pat Cummins to Babar Azam, FOUR BYES! That one has taken off and beats everyone! Pat Cummins lands this on a hard length and around middle, rises up viciously, Babar Azam gets into an awkward positon as he tries to duck-hook it away but misses as the ball goes over Alex Carey for a boundary towards fine leg.

Pat Cummins to Babar Azam, Good length ball, pitching it outside off, shaping it in. Babar Azam blocks it from the crease towards his off side.

Pat Cummins to Babar Azam, On a length and around off, Babar Azam stays back and stabs it towards covers and calls for the run but is sent back again. It was an easy single.

Nathan Lyon to Saud Shakeel, An appeal for LBW, but turned down! Nathan Lyon is pleading here but Pat Cummins decides against the review. This is flatter, full and on middle, goes in with the angle, Saud Shakeel strides out to block but misses and gets hit on the pads. Was it the inside edge? I think that's what the Aussies are concluding. Lyon asks something with umpire Richard Illingworth. Here comes Ultra Edge, followed by Hot Spot, for the viewers, not for the review. NO INSIDE EDGE. Now then - would this have been number 500? Ball Tracker - shows it to be BOUNCING over the leg stump. Fair call from Cummins not to review.

Nathan Lyon to Saud Shakeel, Quicker, short and on middle, Saud Shakeel stay back and keeps it out to the of side.

Nathan Lyon to Saud Shakeel, Tossed up, fuller, down the leg. Saud Shakeel plants his front foot to defend the ball back to the bowler.

Nathan Lyon to Babar Azam, Flighted, full and on middle, Babar Azam flicks it through square leg for a single.

Nathan Lyon to Babar Azam, Fuller one, pitching on off, drifting it in. Babar Azam strides out and blocks it to his feet.

Nathan Lyon to Babar Azam, Tossed up, full and on middle, turns in, Babar Azam clips it to short leg.

Pat Cummins to Babar Azam, Back of length on middle. Babar Azam attempts to tuck the delivery to his leg side but gets a leading edge. Ball rolls towards the cover region for a single.

Pat Cummins to Babar Azam, Good length around off, Babar Azam goes for a defence off the front foot and gets an outside edge of the blade. The ball pops and falls short of third slip and rolls behind him. Babar Azam quickly calls for a single but Saud Shakeel sends him back on a sharp call.

Pat Cummins to Babar Azam, Sharp bouncer, on middle. Babar Azam ducks under the delivery.

Pat Cummins to Babar Azam, Oh that's an absolute beauty from the skipper! Angles this one in and around off. Babar Azam gets beaten all ends up on that one.

Pat Cummins to Babar Azam, Good length outside off. Babar blocks it solidly outside off.

Pat Cummins to Babar Azam, Uneven bounce yet again. Length delivery just outside off. Babar Azam looks surprise and blocks the ball towards point uncomfortably.

Nathan Lyon to Saud Shakeel, Overpitches the delivery on middle, Saud Shakeel drives it towards mid on for not runs.

Nathan Lyon to Saud Shakeel, Bowls from around the wicket and drops on a fuller length, outside off, Saud Shakeel defends it to cover off the front foot.

Nathan Lyon to Babar Azam, Fuller again, outside off. Babar Azam strides forward and drives the ball towards mid off and takes a quick single. Good running between the wickets.

Nathan Lyon to Babar Azam, A good flighted delivery outside off and full, Babar Azam leans ahead and blocks it solidly.

Nathan Lyon to Babar Azam, Tossed up, wide outside off, fuller. Babar Azam puts his front foot out and defends the ball solidly.

Nathan Lyon to Babar Azam, Over the wicket and flights it on a fuller length, just outside off, Babar Azam confidently lunges ahead and defends it back to the bowler.

Nathan Lyon comes into the attack now. He is sitting on 499 Test wickets.

Pat Cummins to Saud Shakeel, Short one to end the over, over leg and middle. Saud Shakeel does nothing but ducks under the delivery.

Pat Cummins to Babar Azam, That one stays low off the deck! Angles on the pads on a back of a length, Babar Azam eyes for a flick but gets beaten with the low bounce. The ball claps the front pad. A loud appeal from the skipper Pat Cummins but the umpire is not interested on that one. Cummins aborts for a review after chatting with Alex Carey 

Pat Cummins to Babar Azam, Close! Good length ball, pitching outside off, angles it a little bit. Babar Azam goes for a risky leave as it was close to the wicket.

Pat Cummins to Babar Azam, Shorter and just around off, Babar Azam solidly defends it underneath the bat off the back foot.

Pat Cummins to Babar Azam, Short one, on middle. Babar Azam goes back and blocks the ball with a full face of the bat to the right of the bowler.

Pat Cummins to Babar Azam, Pitches on a back of a length from over the wicket, outside off, Babar Azam gets on top of the bounce and punches it through the cover region for a double.