All-round Marnus 'has a big future' says Lyon

Marnus Labuschagne "has a big future" in the Australian Test team after another impressive day in the field, according to Nathan Lyon.

Lyon and Labuschagne took seven wickets between them to bowl Pakistan out for 282 after losing the toss for the second successive Test, leaving the series-decider in Abu Dhabi finely poised.

The Queenslander will be keen to make his mark with the bat when he gets his opportunity in Australia's first innings later on Tuesday, but the energetic personality has lifted the team by grabbing his opportunities in the field.

A stunning, improbable catch at short leg off Mitchell Starc gave Australia the perfect start to the second Test after Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first.

Lyon called it the type of catch "that can change a game", while also conceding Pakistan batsman Mohammad Hafeez was "unlucky".

Australia's spin leader, a gun fielder himself, knows all about big plays in the field that can shift momentum one way – his run out of James Vince at the Gabba was credited by Cricket Network pundit Ricky Ponting as a defining moment of that Ashes campaign.

"I was at point. That's one of those ones that can change a game, but I just love the way he told me that he went with the catch without realising that it hit him before he moved," Lyon said after play.

"It's one of those things, it just happens. You don't train for those.

"He'll tell you that he knew what he was doing but it hit him in the groin and just got stuck between his legs, so Mohammad Hafeez is very unlucky."

The gloss came off that stunning catch a shade when Labuschagne then dropped a simple chance off Jon Holland's bowling, but better was to come as his leg-spin wrinkled out three Pakistan batsmen either side of tea, including opening batsman Fakhar Zaman on 94 with the final ball before the break.

A superb catch from Paine off a significant edge from Bilal Asif handed Labuschagne a second scalp, and he lured Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed into a wild hoick off for a juggling Peter Siddle at mid-off to cling on to the skied miscue.

"You see that with a lot of leg-spinners, they've got different ways of taking wickets," Lyon said of Labuschagne's input.

"I like the way Marnus has come on and has done his job for the Australian cricket side over the last two games with the ball.

"I think he's an exciting little player. I've got big hopes for him, big wraps on him. He's a lovely guy, I'm a big fan of him.

"So if he can keep improving the way he's bowling and trying to bowl his best ball every ball day, I think he's got a big future."

Having proven his worth in the field, the Queenslander will be keen to show the form with the bat that helped vault him into the national side.

Day two of the second Test starts at 5pm AEDT on Fox Cricket.

Qantas Tour of the UAE

Australia Test squad: Tim Paine (c), Ashton Agar, Brendan Doggett, Aaron Finch, Travis Head, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc

Pakistan Test squad: Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Usman Salahuddin, Yasir Shah, Shadab Khan, Bilal Asif, Mohammad Abbas, Hasan Ali, Wahab Riaz, Faheem Ashraf, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Hafeez

Oct 7-11: First Test, drawn

Oct 16-20: Second Test, Abu Dhabi