Pakistan didn’t enforce the follow-on against Australia because their bowlers were a bit tired, according to the team’s batting coach Grant Flower.

But Australia’s cricketers are on their knees after being thrashed in the first Test and skittled in their first innings in the second Test.

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And No.7 batsman Brad Haddin has a shoulder injury which affects his batting.

Younis Khan inflicts more pain on the Aussies. Photo: Getty

Flower was actually out the back in the training nets at Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Stadium for most of the third day’s play so it was a mystery as to why he was sent to a media conference on Saturday night to explain the team’s tactic to not enforce the follow on.

“I wasn’t part of the actual decision,” Flower said.

“But I think they just wanted our bowlers to come back (to the rooms) and get a breather.”

After amassing a first-innings total of 6-570 declared, Pakistan bowled Australia out for 261 in 67.2 overs.

Leading one-nil in the two-match series, Pakistan need only a draw to win their first Test series against Australia since beating Mark Taylor’s side in 1994.

So a win in the this match is not the top priority.

Just to make sure Australia can’t win will be enough.

“We are actually trying to get it to the stage where there is only one winner, especially when you are already one-up in the series,” Flower said.

“So this is the only thinking. We have to get them out of the game and set them something they can’t chase.”

Pakistan will resume on Sunday’s fourth day on 2-61.

“We’re going to bat on until at least lunch,” Flower revealed.

He said Australia’s struggles with Pakistan’s spinners reminded him of Pakistan’s dramas against Sri Lanka earlier in 2014.

“In Sri Lanka, we weren’t reading (left-arm spinner Rangana) Herath and didn’t know which ones were spinning and which were not,” Flower said.

“Probably a bit like Zulfiqar (Pakistan’s left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar) with the Australians.

“If you aren’t sure which way the ball is going, it makes it really tough.”