Forrest fires in Adelaide

Australia has posted its highest total of the Commonwealth Bank Series so far, scoring 8-269 against India at the Adelaide Oval following classy contributions from debutant Peter Forrest and veteran David Hussey.

Forrest announced himself on the international stage with a polished 66 while Hussey top scored for the Australians with 72 off just 76 balls.

Forrest was undaunted by the enormity of his first-game, belting several boundaries and two thumping sixes while Hussey finished with five fours.

The duo combined for a 98-run partnership that restored parity to Australia's innings after the hosts lost the early wickets of Ricky Ponting (6), David Warner (18) and skipper Michael Clarke (38).

A late contribution from Dan Christian (39) further helped set India a formidable victory target of 270.

Umesh Yadav finished as the pick of the Indian bowlers with 2-49 from 10 overs.

Having won the toss and electing to bat, Australia began in a sluggish fashion, failing to make the most of the batter-friendly conditions.

The Indian bowlers looked hungry and spirited as they cramped openers Warner and Ponting at the crease.

Ponting eventually paid for the slow start when he nudged a thick edge from Vinay Kumar to Virat Kohli at backward point.

Warner and Clarke revived the stuttering start however, with the duo responding well to India's early onslaught.

Clarke in particular was in red-hot form as he smashed back-to-back fours in the fifth and sixth over.

The 30-year-old was hitting the ball sweetly, driving and spreading shots right off the meat of the bat all over the ground as he raced past Warner in the scoring and took Australia's run-rate past six an over.

Warner followed suit as he began to free himself at the stumps until the slogging left-hander was run out in the ninth over following a disastrous mix-up with his skipper.

Warner had called to run before aborting the decision half-way down the wicket, oblivious to Clarke charging through for a single, as he was caught ball-watching, leaving Rohit Sharma with an easy throw and run out at the bowlers end.

First-gamer Forrest wasted no time however in making an impression when, on only his ninth ball faced, he hammered a cut shot off the front foot for four.

The 26-year-old followed it up with a cracking six high over long on just four balls later.

Clarke couldn't stay with the Queenslander however when he was caught off guard by a slower ball from Yadav in the 18th over that he bottom edged onto his stumps, bringing an end to his entertaining knock.

With Clarke departed, Forrest and Hussey picked up the slack to bring up Australia's 150 in the 31st over after two hours of play.

Moments later Forrest became the second Australian on debut in the tri-series to reach 50 before the right-hander celebrated with another glittering six that this time was whacked well over long-on.

The Queensland Bulls batsman threw away his wicket though in the 36th over when he pulled at a short Yadav delivery that fell well short, finding Vinay Kumar running in from the deep mid-wicket boundary.

An over later Hussey worked a fuller delivery off the pads to reach his quick-fire half-century from just 54 balls.

Hussey combined late with Christian - who had the honour of surpassing the 200 mark for Australia on his home turf - before the Victorian batsman was dismissed following an exceptional diving