Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke both hit double centuries as Australia exerted their dominance over India on the second day of the fourth and final Test at Adelaide.
Taking advantage of the benign wicket and a bowling attack that wilted in the scorching sun, the pair extended their partnership to 386 – Australia’s fourth highest ever for any wicket – as the tourists toiled.
Indeed, India had to wait until after lunch to separate their antagonists, Clarke being bowled by Umesh Yadav for 210 early in the afternoon session.
Michael Hussey (25) then entered the fray, marshalling Ponting past 200 before being run out by some sharp work from Gautam Gambhir at silly point.
While Zaheer then finally got rid of Ponting for 221 and Peter Siddle followed soon after, Brad Haddin and Ryan Harris brought Australia past 600, when the declaration finally came.
With just over 20 overs left in the day, India would have been praying for a solid start. However, as has been the case over the entire course of the series, that did not materialise.
Virender Sehwag, standing in as captain for the suspended Mahendra Singh Dhoni, was caught and bowled by Siddle for just 18 before Rahul Dravid was clean bowled for the sixth time in the series to leave India reeling at 31-2.
Though Gamhir and Sachin Tendulkar then navigated the final overs of another arduous day, their side face another stern challenge tomorrow in the attempt to ward of an ignominious whitewash.
Speaking at the close of play, captain Clarke explained just how satisfying his innings alongside Ponting was.
"It's always nice to see us both scoring runs when we bat together," he said. "We've known each other for a long time, played a lot of cricket together. It's nice to spend some time in the middle.
"Both of us were disappointed with our series last summer and we've worked hard on our games to improve … it's nice to be scoring some [runs] this summer.
"We know each other's games quite well so we can certainly communicate to what we're seeing, if we feel like we can help. We speak a lot when we bat about what the other person has seen, to get help and advice and to keep both of us going and this innings was no different."
