'That was a jaffa': Aussie Test hopeful cops 'unplayable' gem

As far as auditions go, it was one Joe Burns would be keen to forget.

The classy opener was hoping to stamp his mark for Australia A in the tour match against Pakistan in Perth, with a place in the Test side up for grabs.

However, in the worst possible scenario for the Queensland batsman, Burns lasted just one delivery after an exquisite ball from Imran Khan.

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The right-handed Pakistani quick had Burns fishing outside his off stump at a wicked delivery that swung in and beat him all ends up.

Burns could only look on in horror as the ball beat the bat and crashed into his off stump, sending the bails flying.

Viewers were adamant that Burns' chances of earning a Test recall were effectively ended with the unfortunate golden duck.

Marcus Harris - another one of the candidates to open the batting for Australia - fared only marginally better before being removed for 16 runs.

Harris - who failed to make much of an impression opening during a disappointing Ashes campaign earlier in the year - also fell victim to a superb delivery.

This time it was Shaheen Afridi that did the damage - Khan's pace bowling partner collecting Harris' off stump with a full pitched delivery that may have just moved away after hitting the pitch.

Travis Head was the next to fall in a shocking start for the Aussies when he was caught at point for 13 runs after trying to slash away a short pitched ball.

Khawaja could only add six runs before he became the fourth batsman back to the pavilion for the Aussies.

The home side’s nightmare continued when young gun Will Pucovski was caught edging for five runs.

Just when it seemed like things couldn't possibly get any worse, Alex Carey was the next to go after chopping onto his own stumps.

Veteran seamer Khan snared 5-21, with the hosts limping to Tuesday's dinner break at 9-73 in reply to Pakistan's 428.

Visitors put Aussies to the sword on day two

The hosts’ wobbly start came after Pakistan were bowled out for a whopping 428 on day two of their pink-ball tour match.

Led by tailender Yasir Shah (53), the tourists added 92 runs in Tuesday's opening session at Optus Stadium after Babar Azam (157) and Asad Shafiq (119) retired overnight.

Yasir was trapped lbw by Jhye Richardson (3-79) just before the tea break, bringing Pakistan's stubborn resistance to an end.

Sixteen-year-old quick Naseem Shah did not bat and will take no further part in Tuesday's play following the death of his mother overnight.

The tourists opted not to replace Naseem, preferring to retain the tour match's first-class status.

Pakistan's depleted pace brigade should get some assistance from a pitch that appeared to have livened up after a tame opening day.

Mohammad Rizwan was notably dismissed by a rearing Richardson delivery which struck him on the glove and was caught in the slips.

Ashes reserve paceman Michael Neser finished with 2-57, while Richardson snared all three of his wickets on Tuesday.

A strong field of Test contenders led by Head are all but certain to only only get one bite at the cherry after Pakistan batted through four sessions.

Head was Australia's vice-captain during the Ashes but that didn't spare him from being axed for the deciding fifth Test at The Oval.

Fresh from a Sheffield Shield century against NSW, Head is vying to edge out talented youngster Pucovski for the middle-order vacancy in Australia's Test side.

"Different pressures, different times you have to bat under different circumstances, that's why you play the game," Head told reporters after stumps on Monday.

"You want to do well on these sort of days and these sort of games."

National coach Justin Langer and chief selector Trevor Hohns will sit down on Wednesday to pick their squad for the first Test, which gets underway in just under a fortnight at the Gabba.

With AAP