ON January 7 Shaun and Mitchell Marsh joined Steve and Mark Waugh, and Ian Chappell and Greg Chappell, as the only sets of brothers to score Test centuries for Australia in the same innings.

On Wednesday they emulated the Waughs again, becoming the second pair of Australian brothers to ever suffer a duck in the same innings. It is the first time a pair of brothers have registered ducks in the same Test innings since the Waughs did so against Pakistan in 2002.

A day after losing 10 for 60, Australia looked set to suffer another dismal collapse as three wickets tumbled with the score on 87.

Aaron Finch was the first man out, trapped in front on 49 by Mohammad Abbas. Just like the first innings the Victorian’s dismissal proved the opening the Pakistanis needed, with Abbas nicking off Shaun Marsh for a duck two deliveries later with a lovely bit of late swing. In the seamer’s next over he trapped Mitch Marsh in front for zero.

Fortunately for Australia Usman Khawaja and Travis Head managed to steady the ship, getting the team off the devil’s number and steering them to stumps at 3-136.

Nevertheless, the form of both Marsh brothers is a growing concern for Australia given they have now been entrusted with batting at No.3 and 4.

Both men plundered runs during the 2017-18 Ashes to nail down their spots in the middle-order. But since leaving Australian shores they have both struggled.

The older Marsh brother has averaged 15.40 across his past 10 innings, and the all-rounder 18.80 despite starting that run with an impressive 96 against South Africa.