Chris Barrett is a Sports Writer with The Sydney Morning Herald.
Australian opener Matt Renshaw was being assessed overnight for possible concussion after being struck in the helmet for the second time in three days, on an afternoon in which a rejuvenated Nathan Lyon inched the hosts closer towards clinching a series clean sweep.
There have been calls for Peter Handscomb to be installed as Australia's wicketkeeper ahead of next month's tour of India and despite the unlikeliness of that unfolding those campaigning for him were given no reason to be dissuaded on Thursday.
Australia's dominance with the bat in Sydney has given spinners Nathan Lyon and Steve O'Keefe an opportunity to "crack this game wide open" and ram home their claims for next month's series in India.
Different strokes for different folks. That was the theme of Tuesday for Australia's opening pair as David Warner and Matt Renshaw made hundreds contrasting in style but similar in weight.
Cricketers will tell you they are often a product of their environment and that certainly appears the case for the fast-emerging Australian opener.
Pakistan's resolve to move on from the disappointments of Brisbane and Melbourne was built in the hotel room of Misbah-ul-Haq on New Year's Eve.Â
Smith is averaging 60.63 entering the milestone match and is in reach of becoming a member of a most exclusive club - of batsmen to average 60 after their 50th Test.
Frustrated by the state of the practice and warm-up pitches dished up on previous tours of the subcontinent, Australia plan to prepare for the Indian Test series in Dubai.
Starc's match-winning exploits in Melbourne completed a bumper 2016 for the left-arm speedster and Hazlewood enters the third Test against Pakistan also coming off a fine year in which he has raced to 100 Test wickets.
His lean record with the ball has raised questions ahead of his likely Test debut, but Hilton Cartwright is adamant he can fill the third seamer's role for Australia in the Sydney Test against Pakistan.
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