'Oh dear': Cricket world divided over baffling Steve Smith drama

Australia's fielding gremlins have returned in the decisive third Test against Pakistan, with Steve Smith once again at the centre of the drama.

At stumps on day two, Pakistan were 1-90 off 39 overs in reply to Australia's 391, with Abdullah Shafique (45no off 117 balls) and Azhar Ali (30no off 79 balls) the unbeaten batsmen.

BRAVE: Megan Barnard returns to TV days after Tom Morris scandal

'WHAT THE HELL': AFL fans rage over 'absolute shambles' at MCG

A reverse swing masterclass from paceman Naseem Shah and a gritty top-order batting effort helped catapult the home side back into contention after a solid first innings from the Aussies.

However, Pat Cummins' visitors will be kicking themselves for letting another huge opportunity go begging in the field, with Smith's fielding nightmare in Pakistan getting even worse.

The Aussie vice-captain has been guilty of spilling a number of good chances so far this series and once again found himself at the centre of another spurned chance.

The Aussies could have removed Shafique on just 13 runs when Cummins tempted the opener into a thick outside edge.

However, the visitors - who have struggled to get their fielding positions right in the slower conditions being played on in Pakistan - were left scratching their heads as the catching chance went begging.

Australia's answer to the slower wickets in Pakistan has been to position Smith in an unorthodox position at first slip, in front of wicketkeeper Alex Carey.

That tactic backfired badly though as the ball flew between the Aussie pair, with Pakistan great Waqar Younis explaining the folly in Australia's plan.

“When you stand in front, you don’t know where the keeper is standing. So when the ball comes to your left, you sort of think ‘there’s a keeper behind me, he’ll catch that,’” he explained.

“The keeper is probably looking at the slip thinking that he will catch that and the reaction time is so little that it’s hard to catch them.

“These are slow pitches, I feel they should at least be standing parallel to each other,” he said.

The Age’s chief cricket writer Daniel Brettig insisted that blame for the incident lay with Carey, and that the wicketkeeper should have made an effort to take a diving catch.

“It’s past Smith before he sees it. Carey sees it alright but for some unknown reason he’s stranded preparing to take the ball on the inside edge,” he tweeted.

However, Fox Sports commentator and Aussie Test great Mark Waugh disagreed by claiming: “That is Smith’s catch every day of the week.”

The incident proved divisive for fans on social media, with the majority seeming to agree that Smith was at fault.

Pakistan roar back into contention on day two

Imam ul-Haq (11) was the only Pakistan batsman to fall after being trapped lbw by Cummins, with the Aussies hoping for quick wickets when day three gets underway on Wednesday.

Australia were cruising at 5-341 midway through day two before Shah helped spark a collapse of 5-50.

Shah (4-58) and fellow paceman Shaheen Afridi (4-79) did the bulk of the damage.

Cameron Green (79 off 163 balls) and Carey (67 off 105 balls) combined for a 135-run stand to put Australia in the box seat.

But when Carey was trapped plumb lbw by spinner Nauman Ali and Green was bowled by Shah, Pakistan roared back into the match.

Australia's tail could only put up limited resistance as Shah and Afridi continued the onslaught, with Shah's ability to extract reverse swing proving crucial.

The visitors had started the day at 5-232 following strong knocks on day one from Usman Khawaja (91) and Smith (59).

Green and Carey got through the morning session of day two unscathed, but it wasn't without drama.

Carey was bizarrely given out on 27 by umpire Aleem Dar in a decision that confused everyone.

Hasan Ali's yorker diverted off a footmark and brushed the off stump ever so slightly before bouncing short of the wicketkeeper.

Dar gave Carey out after a muted appeal from Pakistan and the Australian immediately reviewed the decision.

It wasn't clear whether Carey had been given out caught behind - even though the ball fell short of the keeper - or lbw.

Either way, the replay clearly showed Carey's bat and legs to be well clear of the ball with the decision promptly reversed.

That was as close as Pakistan got to snaring a wicket during the morning session, with Green and Carey both looking comfortable at the crease.

The series is level at 0-0 after the opening Tests ended in draws.

with AAP

Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.