Australia vs Pakistan 2016/17: 3rd Test, Day 4 - 5 talking points

Pakistan were all but out of the game courtesy some hurried batting by the Aussies who declared at 241/2 to set a target of 465 for the visitors. The visitors eventually reached 55/1 at stumps on Day 4 at SCG.

Warner was primarily responsible for Australia's onslaught, smacking a 23 ball half-century. His teammates took over from there as Aussies scores at a rate of 7.53 to set up the declaration.

Khawaja was unbeaten on 79 and Handscomb on 40 off 25 balls when Smith called his men in. Starc and Hazlewood could not find the breakthrough Australia expected to get but Lyon dismissed Sharjeel, who made a quickfire 40.

Here are the talking points from the Day at Sydney.

#5 Warner takes full toll of tired Pakistan bowling

David Warner smacked the second fastest fifty in the history of Test Cricket, a 23 ball half-century that included 3 sixes and eight fours. The southpaw was once again in a destructive mood after his 78-ball hundred in the first innings.

He smoked Yasir Shah for twin sixes in the fourth over and added two fours in the next two balls. He proceeded to punish Imran Khan with four back to back boundaries before lifting Yasir for a six to bring up his half-century from 23 balls.

Pakistan were already down and out of the game and the assault by Warner set them back so much so that they could never recover from it.

#4 Yasir Shah continues to struggle

Not a tour to remember for the leg-spinner

The veteran leggie has had a disastrous tour of Australia, with the host batsmen taking him to the cleaners with some powerful hitting. Yasir was least helped by some leg side fields by Misbah in the first two Tests.

Though the field was better in this Test, Warner, Smith and Khawaja did not spare the wrist spinner, smashing him for 124 runs in 14 overs. Warner was particularly harsh on him hitting two sixes and two fours in the fourth over of the innings.

With Pakistan down and out of the Test, Yasir needed a boost before returning home. But if he hoped for some respite in the second innings, the Aussies had other ideas and targeted him with ease.

#3 Smith, Khawaja and Handscomb continue the onslaught

Even after Warner’s dismissal, Pakistan hardly got any respite

After Warner was dismissed, the middle order batsmen continued to feast on the Pakistani bowlers. Aussies raced to 241 at a run rate of 7.53 as Smith and Khawaja made half-centuries.

Handscomb stepped up the gas as soon as he came in by taking in Yasir Shah and made a 25 ball 40 before Smith called them in for the declaration. Khawaja had raced to another half-century, a 98 ball 79 in the meantime.

Australia declared to set Pakistan a target of 465, giving enough time to their bowlers to bowl them out. Much of the time available was due to the spectacular show put on by their batsmen.

#2 Matt Renshaw out of Test with concussion

Matt Renshaw had to go off the field after suffering a wild blow to the head

Renshaw had coped a wild blow while fielding at short leg when Sarfraz Ahmed hit an O'Keefe ball right at his helmet. Although Renshaw kept fielding for one more over, he left after that complaining of a headache.

Although after reports for concussion suggested that he was fine, this morning he still felt unwell and as such he was withdrawn from the Test. He will be monitored over the week by doctors. The southpaw was also hit on the helmet grille in the first innings by Mohammad Amir when he was on 91.

Renshaw is not contracted to any Big Bash teams since he is considered a First-class specialist and hence he will have an extended period of rest before Australia tour India, for which he is expected to partner Warner at the top.

#1 Sharjeel tries a Warner

Sharjeel gave the Aussies something to ponder on

Pakistan had their own answer to Warner's antics in their debutant, Sharjeel Khan, known as a big hitter. The left-handed batsmen had fallen to an expansive drive in the first innings but started his second stint at the crease in a better fashion.

He took on Starc and punished some pacy short pitch balls with cuts and pulls. Anything fuller was driven and he took a special liking to Lyon, punishing him for a four and six in the same over.

However, like Warner, he lives by the sword and dies by the sword, and eventually fell while taking on Lyon. He was caught brilliantly by Warner and his stay at the wicket came to an end.