Australia vs. India 2014, 1st Test, Day 2: Highlights, Scorecard, Report

Australia moved themselves into a position of total authority on a rain-restricted second day of the opening Test with India.

Steven Smith and skipper Michael Clarke both made centuries as Australia moved to 517 for 7, before a final delay for rain called a halt to play.

Batsman	How Out	Runs	Minutes	Balls
CJL Rogers	c Dhawan b I Sharma	9	39	22
DA Warner	c I Sharma b KV Sharma	145	253	163
SR Watson	c Dhawan b Aaron	14	53	33
MJ Clarke	c Pujara b KV Sharma	128	244	163
SPD Smith	Not Out	162		231
MR Marsh	c Kohli b Aaron	41	106	87
NM Lyon	b Mohammed Shami	3	14	14
BJ Haddin†	c †Saha b Mohammed Shami	0	7	5
MG Johnson	Not Out	0		4
Extras	(lb 4, w 9, nb 2)	15
Total	(7 wickets; 120 overs)	517
Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets
Mohammed Shami	24	2	120	2
VR Aaron	23	1	136	2
I Sharma	27	5	85	1
KV Sharma	33	1	143	2
M Vijay	13	3	29	0

There were doubts as to whether Clarke would be able to bat after retiring hurt on the first day with back pain, but he accompanied Smith to the crease on the second morning.

Both batsmen scored freely and at a good pace, as they feasted on plenty of short-pitch bowling from India’s pacemen—with Smith carrying his form from the first day into the second morning. Aakash Chopra expressed his support of Smith as a "brand ambassador":

"

Steve Smith could be the brand ambassador of the brand called 'Technique is overrated' #AUSvIND

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 10, 2014"

Australia had moved to 401 for 6 when rain took the players off for an early lunch.

Smith was sat on 98 for a good few hours as he watched the rain come down. On the resumption, he clipped Varun Aaron for a couple and walked over to the 408 painted on the pitch to pay his own tribute to Phillip Hughes.

Further rain delays interrupted play, but in the 105th over of the day Clarke tucked a ball away off his thigh to bring up his own century—his 28th in Tests.

With thick clouds threatening to bring in more rain, Smith and Clark went into an all-out attack mode. The boundary was peppered by both batsmen, but chances also came along, and Wriddhiman Saha missed a stumping chance to get rid of Smith following a lovely bit of spin bowling from Karn Sharma who deceived the batsman in the flight.

The rain turned heavy, and a further lengthy delay caused frustration, but play resumed deep into the evening session.

Michael Dodge/Getty Images

India were somewhat ragged in the field upon the resumption, with Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Ishant Sharma grassing chances.

Clarke offered up one chance too many in search of quick runs and was caught by Pujara off the bowling of Karn Sharma.

Shortly afterward, a discussion between the umpires and India captain Kohli took place. Moments later, the players were taken off—with it apparent that Kohli was set to bowl his pace men, and the officials deemed that unsuitable in the conditions.

Australia are in a position of total authority, due to the pace at which they have scored their runs and will still fancy their chances of forcing a victory, provided the weather does not intervene.

Clarke is almost certain to declare overnight, provided conditions are suitable, before letting his bowlers loose on India.

For India, the first Test is now all about holding out for a draw.