Australia turn the screw

The Australia skipper smashed 210 from 275 balls to follow up his unbeaten knock of 329 from the second Test.

Ricky Ponting also got into the act on a lifeless pitch as he scored 221 from 404 deliveries before India's bowlers finally had something to celebrate.

A late flurry of wickets helped check the Australian charge - with the hosts finally declaring on 604-7.

And India were left well and truly on the ropes at the close as they were reduced to 61-2.

Clarke and Ponting showed tremendous intent from the outset and created further history with their partnership of 386 the highest for any wicket in all Tests at Adelaide, surpassing the previous best of 341 held by South African duo Eddie Barlow and Graeme Pollock against Bob Simpson's Australians in 1963-64.

It is also the highest partnership in all Australia-India Tests, going past the epic 376-run stand between VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid at Eden Gardens in 2001.

Clarke moved to 150 in only the third over of the morning before reaching 200 from just 255 deliveries when he turned off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin through mid-wicket for two.

It was Clarke's second double century in his past three Tests, the 30-year-old, whose career average has now tipped just over the 50-mark, in the form of his life and clearly relishing being in charge of his country.

Edged

Ponting notched the 15th 150 of his career from 274 balls with an exquisite straight drive for four off Ishant Sharma.

Having had Australia on the ropes at 84-3 just before lunch on day one, India went three sessions without taking a wicket.

However they finally struck three balls into afternoon session when Clarke was bowled by Umesh Yadav.

Michael Hussey (25) came in and shared a 50-run stand before his run out - following a great piece of field at silly point by Gautam Gambhir - sparked a mini-collapse.

Ponting was heading back 13 balls later after pulling Zaheer Khan straight to Sachin Tendulkar at deep midwicket, while Peter Siddle managed to add just two to the score before he edged Ashwin behind to Wriddhiman Saha.

Brad Haddin (42no) and Ryan Harris (35no) put on 71 for the eighth wicket, though, before the declaration came.

India attempted to set about the mammoth score - and they were gifted an early lifeline when Ed Cowan dropped Virender Sehwag off Ben Hilfenhaus in just the second over.

It was a brief reprieve, though, as Siddle held on to a one-handed caught and bowled chance to remove the acting India skipper for 18.

Rahul Dravid quickly followed for just one as he was clean bowled by Hilfenhaus.

Gambhir (30no) and Tendulkar (12no), though, put on an unbroken stand of 30 to see India through to the close.