'Last Test': Shaun Marsh's horror series ends in brutal fashion

Shaun Marsh lasted just six balls in what will surely be the last time he bats in a Test for Australia.

Nothing short of a miracle will be enough for Australia to avoid a crushing defeat in the second Test after Pakistan’s batsmen showed no mercy in the series-decider.

Australia were set a mammoth target of 538 to win after Pakistan declared their second innings at 9-400 late on day three in Abu Dhabi.

The tourists were 1-47 in reply at stumps with Aaron Finch unbeaten on 24 and Travis Head 17 not out.

No Test side in history has ever successfully chased a fourth-innings target greater than 418.

Shaun Marsh (four) lasted just six balls before being clean-bowled by debutant Mir Hamza, capping off a terrible series for the 35-year-old.

Left-arm paceman Hamza’s maiden Test wicket was a peach, angling away from the left-hander and clipping off stump.

Pressure continues to mount on Marsh ahead of the home summer, having now gone 12 innings at Test level without a score of note.

This series, he made just 14 runs in four innings at an average of 3.5.

But incredibly, it’s not his worst performance in a Test series.

He actually made 17 runs in six innings at 2.83 against India in 2011-12.

If the knives weren’t out already, they certainly are now.

Pakistan young gun Babar Azam earlier fell one run short of his maiden Test century, trapped lbw by Mitch Marsh on 99.

Skipper Sarfraz Ahmed added a valiant 81 despite carrying an elbow injury and also copping a blow to the helmet while ducking to Peter Siddle.

Injuries add to Australia’s woes

Serious questions will linger about how Australia managed to end up so far behind the game after an inspired Nathan Lyon spell left Pakistan reeling at 5-57 in the first innings.

Australia’s bowlers failed to press their advantage after Lyon’s brilliance, and the 145 put on in reply was their fourth-lowest first innings total in Asia.

Lyon (4-135) was again the pick of the bowlers in Pakistan’s second dig, while part-time legspinner Marnus Labuschagne (2-74) took his series tally to seven wickets.

Usman Khawaja was meanwhile set to undergo scans after tweaking his left knee during the warm-up on Thursday and failing to take the field.

The opening batsman, who was man of the match during the drawn first Test in Dubai, tore his anterior cruciate ligament in the same knee in 2014.

There was hope within the Australian camp that Khawaja has avoided serious injury and may yet bat, although his time off the field will likely prevent him coming in higher than No.7.

“It was just something in warm-up. We were throwing the ball,” Siddle said.

“I don’t know what specifically happened. It’s disappointing for him but fingers crossed he gets some good news tonight.”

Mitchell Starc, who is being managed after battling tightness in his left hamstring, sent down three overs after lunch having failed to bowl during the previous two sessions.

The gun quick appears likely to return home after the Test with Siddle held over as back-up for the T20 series starting next week.

with AAP