AUS vs PAK

That's it from, Perth folks. It was quite simply a complete team performance from Australia. Everyone chipped in their own ways and their 2023 just keeps getting better. They would be the happiest bunch of cricket folks in the world right now and it's the perfect environment to celebrate one of their greatest ever bowlers. Pakistan just didn't have the experience and the fortitude to take on these giants in their den. It's more about that than anything else. Melbourne should be fun and we'll surely see all of you then! This is the pair of Rudransh and Soorya signing off for Sportskeeda. Have an enjoyable rest of your day. Tata!

Pat Cummins (Australia captain): Great start to the summer. Everything fell in place really so couldn't be happier. We've played a lot of cricket here, it's an experienced side so the build-up was very chilled and relaxed. (On Warner) That was huge. His and Uzzy's partnership in that first partnership really set it up for us. To get 350 odd (on the first day), we were really ahead of the game from the first day. (On Marsh) He's one of the favorites of the West, he's also one of my favorites. It's great to see him back in Australia and playing a Test after five (six) years. (On Lyon) Just huge isn't it? 500 Test wickets around the world is huge. Couldn't be happier for him. He was out for six months with a calf injury and it's great to see him back. Going to get home for a few days and we'll get together on the 22nd or the 23rd. It's always nice to have the families together for Christmas Day before we get to work.

Shan Masood: Look when you come to these shores, you look for progress. If you had told us that Australia will play 110 overs and we'll play 100, I'd have taken that. We could have scored quicker and 60-70 runs would have proved the difference in maybe keeping that lead to a sizeable level. Discipline is something we would take from the Australian attack. We took 15 wickets and need to aim for 20. It's never easy when you have two debutants in a four-seam attack. They have the first-class record, we'll take the positives and they did decently well.

Mitchell Marsh is the Player of the Match for his stellar all-round contributions. Here's what he has to say: It's been amazing. Obviously my first Test at Perth Stadium and first Test in Perth for six years. Nice to be back and thank you everyone for getting around me. It has been an incredible experience. When you go out with a big-ish lead it takes some pressure off. The wicket was very tricky though and we wanted to push towards (a lead of) 400. The bowlers bowled outstanding. Bowling hurts way too much so I'll take the runs (grins). We've got a great bowling group and to contribute and get the wicket of Babar Azam is amazing. (What next?) Bit of home time, maybe get some rest for a day or two and then back to work in Melbourne.

Let's hear from the man of the moment, Nathan Lyon: As a young kid growing up in New South Wales 500 wickets is something I never thought of. Something I'm very very proud of. I was very confident about it. Thankfully it was three reds. Doesn't matter where we are, to get to 500 wickets is pretty special. To do it here and contribute to a great team win makes it even better. We know the class of the big three quicks but a lot of credit has to go to Usman and Mitch Marsh for the way they batted on a pretty challenging Wicket. Our three quicks, what can we say about them. Have had a lot of time to reflect and dream of getting back here on the big stage. This has been my passion, I love playing cricket for Australia and have never taken it for granted. Pretty proud of where we are at the moment. (Want to play until 50?) What am I 36, that's a long way away (laughs). I'm trying to get better each day and appreciate it. Just love playing cricket for Australia in front of a great crowd as well. (How will he celebrate?) Probably in (Shane) Warney's fashion I reckon. My family here as well, my wife and my brothers which is pretty amazing. I'll have a beer with those guys and celebrate it. We've got to recognize a great win, an amazing hundred by Davey and my 500th wicket.

AUSTRALIA WIN! THEY BUTCHER PAKISTAN BY A MARGIN OF 360 runs! An absolute domination from one of the scariest teams at home. Pakistan's horror of visiting this country continues and gets worse.

Saud Shakeel 24 (51) | Babar Azam  14 (37)
Josh Hazlewood (3/13) | Mitchell Starc (3/31)

This is Pakistan's third lowest total in Tests on Australian soil. They have been given a proper beating with the bat, ball, physically and mentally and it will take them more than a few days to recover from it. You've got to feel for Masood. You don't want this in the first match of your Test captaincy career.

Pakistan just lost most of the Test on that first day when they just didn't use the conditions and let Australia put up a massive 487. They still had the opportunity to show a bit of fight and looked like doing it through their top-three in the second innings but some collapses and a complete bowling performance from Australia stopped it.

It was more of the same despite the pitch getting a lot worst for batting in the third innings. It effectively brought the best out of Usman Khawaja and his attrition showed in a top-class 90. Mitchell Marsh scored runs for fun and Australia set-up a mammoth impossible total for Pakistan. 

Pakistan made it look even more difficult. The pitch was scary today because of the cracks but they played just a bit too loose. Australia became absolute robots. They saw one spot on the pitch and everyone kept on bowling there extracting the edges consistently.

Pakistan crumbled like a school team and set it up perfectly for Lyon to go and achieve what he thoroughly deserved - the 500th. He did that and Hazlewood finished things off. Australia were absolutely dominant. The confidence oozed in every ball they bowled and in every shot they played.

Pakistan struggled in every event. They had their moments but not the nerves to pull things back. Melbourne can suit them better. But they'll need a proper mental shift to put this Australian team under pressure. 

30.2 Josh Hazlewood to Khurram Shahzad, EDGED TO SLIP! Australia go 1-0 up inside four days! A nothing shot from Shahzad as he spars at a back of a length delivery in the channel with his feet going nowhere. Hard hands as well and the edge flies to Warner who fittingly pockets it at first slip. He was the man who started it all with that majestic 164 in the first innings and he has the final say in proceedings before flinging the ball in the air with a wide grin on his face. Australia trounce Pakistan by 360 runs!

Khurram Shahzad c David Warner b Josh Hazlewood 0 (1b, 0x4, 0x6)

Pakistan's tailenders were holding on but every fight from Pakistan has lasted just about 2 overs today. A slight chance this would go down the leg. Not it isn't! One wicket away from the win, are Australia!

30.1 Josh Hazlewood to Saud Shakeel, APPEAL AND GIVEN! Shakeel reviews because he has to! Short in length outside the off stump from around the wicket but this one keeps lower than he expects. Shakeel hops across his crease and plays all around it before it thuds into the side of his front pad. Was it doing a bit too much with the angle though? Fair delivery and once again, there is no bat involved.

Smashing leg stump as it turns out and Joel Wilson is vindicated. Australia are one wicket away from taking the series lead!

Saud Shakeel lbw b Josh Hazlewood 24 (51b, 4x4, 0x6)

29.4 Nathan Lyon to Saud Shakeel, flighted back of a length delivery outside leg stump from over the wicket. Shakeel hops behind the line and defends solidly

29.3 Nathan Lyon to Shaheen Afridi, OH! Back of a length and turning away with a hint of extra bounce in the channel. Shaheen opens the face and spars at it before splicing it past short third man for one

29.1 Nathan Lyon to Saud Shakeel, length delivery outside leg stump. Shakeel hangs back and knocks it square on the leg-side before picking up a run

The only goal for Pakistan should be to survive this Test without any injuries. We still have a couple of Tests to go and they can't go there without their players fully fit.