Yet again, Australia has showcased its famous reluctance to enforce a follow-on when in a commanding position of dominance.

With Pakistan bowled out for 142, 287 runs behind Australia's first-innings score, the hosts again opted not to enforce the follow on and sent their batsmen in to pile on more runs.

So why, with the chance to potentially wrap up the first Test in double-quick time, did Australia not put Pakistan back in to bat a second time?

Usman Khawaja kindly explains.

"We wanted to bat in the daytime, get some runs on the board again, give the bowlers a rest and have a crack at them in the night time again," he told Grandstand.

"We just wanted to bat normally for the first session we were out there.

"We had a bit of trouble obviously getting those couple of wickets this morning, they batted pretty all right.

"We got there and tried to bat normally in the first hour, then see where we were and push the game along from there."

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Australia posted a quickfire 5-202 in 39 overs at 5.17 runs per over, before declaring its innings.

Khawaja said despite the quick runs, Pakistan's bowlers provided a stern challenge.

"It was really tough at the start. When I first came in, it was swinging conventionally, and it was swinging quite consistently for about seven or eight overs there I reckon," he said.

"We knew we had to get through that tough period I reckon just before that break it stopped swinging, with all that I was trying to absorb the pressure — that was the time the left-armers were at their most dangerous.

"From there as the pink balls start softening you can start scoring."

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Khawaja said he was not sure what the pink ball would do on day four, with rain expected in the early parts of the day in Brisbane.

"Hard to know as it's a pink ball. If it was a red ball, I'd say 'yes, definitely'," he said.

"You'd get it to swing most times, no matter where the overs are, no matter the conditions.

"I'm not sure, we'll have to wait and see. I think it will be an interesting day, hopefully it's supposed to rain in the morning, hopefully we miss most of it and get some cricket."