'Can't believe it': Pat Cummins under fire over 'ridiculous' farce

Australia may have ripped through Pakistan's batting order late on day three in the third Test, but for the majority of the day it was looking very grim.

The Aussies didn't take a wicket until the 32nd over of the day, before an extraordinary Pakistan collapse saw Australia claim an unlikely first innings lead.

'THAT'S NOT OUT': Controversy erupts over Pat Cummins catch

WOW: Cricket world erupts over David Warner moment

Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc finally got some reward for their toil as Pakistan lost 7-20 and their last four wickets in 10 balls to be all out for 268.

But things were looking very dour for the tourists at lunch on Wednesday and Cummins once again came under fire for his tactics as captain.

Aussie greats Mark Waugh and Brad Haddin were gobsmacked that Cummins hadn't thrown the ball to one of his part-time bowlers - particularly leg-spinner Marnus Labuschagne - instead sticking with his frontliners.

“You’ve got to find a way to get one of these batsmen out. That’s a frustrating thing to try and watch,” Haddin said.

“Give Marnus a go, Travis Head, Steve Smith to come on and bowl.

"Bowl a couple of full tosses, half-trackers, try to get them to do something different because at the moment they’re in total control with what they’re trying to play.”

Waugh added: “I just can’t believe he doesn’t get a bowl, Marnus. He’s a decent bowler.

“Because he bats at No.3 I think they think, ‘oh well, you’re not a No. 6 or 7, we can’t bowl you,’ but he’s worth a trundle.”

Australia did finally see some reward for their efforts, but it may have come too late for the tourists to try and claim victory in the deciding Test.

With three days already in the books, Cummins must now decided when to declare on day four to give his bowlers a chance to claim 10 more wickets and avoid the series ending 0-0.

Pakistan sink to historic low with shock collapse

After managing just three wickets in the first 106 overs, Australia ended Pakistan's resistance in dramatic style by running through them with seven wickets in the final session.

Cummins took 5-56 from 24 overs as Australia claimed a crucial first-innings lead of 123.

Australia openers Usman Khawaja and David Warner then survived a tense three-over period before stumps to take the visitors to 0-11 in their second-innings.

Pakistan were 3-248 before Cummins and Starc (4-33) triggered a stunning collapse of 7-20.

The hosts' innings ended by losing 4-0 in their last 10 balls, marking the first time in history they'd ever lost their last five wickets for less than five runs.

Starc knows Australia will have to fight as hard as ever to bowl Pakistan out twice.

"Last week (in Karachi) we thought the wicket may break up a lot more than it actually did," he said.

"Credit to Pakistan, they played really well, but we're in another position of opportunity.

"We'd rather be in those positions where we've got options and we're pressing the issue than having to survive.

"It's a huge positive for this group in foreign conditions to be pushing the game."

Australia have recorded just three Test victories in Pakistan dating back to 1957, with two of those coming in 1959.

with AAP

Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.