Marnus Labuschagne cleared of finger fracture, will play on after copping painful injury in late short-ball barrage

Marnus Labuschagne has been cleared of a finger fracture and is expected to feature in Pakistan's second innings in the first Test.

Australia's No. 3 was sent for scans on the little finger of his right hand after he was hit by a delivery from debutant paceman Khurram Shahzad on day three at Optus Stadium in Perth.

The knock was a source of discomfort for Labuschagne, who played on but was dismissed for two runs by Shahzad shortly afterwards.

An injury to Labuschagne, a lock for selection at the first drop, would have been a blow to Australia with four Tests left this summer and could have forced a reshuffling of the batting order.

But scans cleared the 29-year-old of structural damage and he was able to net before play started on day four.

Cricket writer Louis Cameron posted a video of him with the good news on Sunday.

'The prognosis for Marnus Labuschagne's finger cannot be too gloomy. Here he is confronted by the Wild Thing in the nets before play. Green and Boland are also going all out on him,” Cameron wrote.

'An x-ray last night showed no visible fracture. Marnus was able to hit the nets unhindered this morning,” said a Cricket Australia spokesperson.

Labuschagne was spotted in the nets opposite Lance Morris before the match on Day 4 and did not appear to be bothered by the injury.

Teammate Steve Smith resumed batting on Sunday despite being hit by a series of bouncers from Pakistani fast Shaheen Afridi on Saturday, forcing staff to treat his left arm on the field.

“It's going to take a lot for him to miss the ball, especially when he's 43 not out,” teammate Mitch Marsh told SEN before the game started.

A Cricket Australia spokesperson said the No. 3 was able to bat unhindered into the nets

Smith (45) lasted just under four overs on day four before being trapped by Shahzad, with cracks starting to appear on the Perth pitch, making life more difficult for the batters.