Australia will need another mammoth innings from skipper Michael Clarke tomorrow if they are to avoid defeat in the Second Test at Hyderabad.
The tourists finished day three on 74 for two, 192 runs in arrears after posting 237 for nine declared in their first innings and being hammered for 503 by the hosts.
Clarke is next to the crease when India break the third-wicket partnership between Shane Watson and Ed Cowan. The 31-year-old, who became the first to score four double centuries in a calendar year in 2012, will need a knock of similar stature to rescue the Aussies.
India passed 500 despite a tail-end collapse which saw five wickets fall for just 19 runs. However, any disappointment they felt about letting the tailenders disappeared when Ravi Ashwin dismissed David Warner and Phil Hughes, both playing poor shots.
The hosts’ position of strength is due largely to Cheteshwar Pujara’s 204. He and Murali Vijay (167) shared a partnership of 370 — India’s fourth-highest for any wicket — and India cruised to lunch at 400 for three.
There was disappointment for the crowd when Sachin Tendulkar was adjudged by the third umpire to have edged one behind on seven. And having threatened to bat all day, India limped past 500 with Glenn Maxwell finishing with four for 127.
