Steve Barrett
at Adelaide Oval
India will require a Herculean effort to deny barnstorming Australia a 4-0 series sweep after the home side struck two telling blows late on day two of the fourth Test at Adelaide Oval to retain a commanding upper hand.
In reply to Australia's mammoth 7-604 declared, the tourists reached 2-61 at the close of play on the second day, still requiring a further 344 runs just to make the Aussies bat again.
Gautam Gambhir (30 not out) and Sachin Tendulkar (12 not out) will be looking to spend as much of Thursday as possible out in the middle after the Indians lost highly-credentialled but out-of-form duo acting captain Virender Sehwag (18) and Rahul Dravid (one) in the post-tea session.
India's reply started well enough when Gambhir helped himself to a juicy wide, full toss loosener from Ryan Harris the first ball of the innings, which the left-handed opener dispatched for four through point.
Sehwag survived an early chance on five when he clipped a Ben Hilfenhaus delivery off his pads to a sprawling Ed Cowan, who dropped a sharp chance at mid-wicket.
The swashbuckling opener thrashed Harris for a couple of trademark off-side boundaries, but he was unable to cash in on his earlier good fortune.
Peter Siddle was introduced into the attack after just four overs and struck gold immediately when, with his first ball - a low full toss - he plucked a leaping, one-handed return catch off the leading edge of Sehwag's bat.
Sehwag trudged off for a run-a-ball 18, giving him a disappointing series aggregate of 136 runs at 19.42.
The following over, the equally out of touch Dravid was sent packing for one after being bowled by Hilfenhaus, the ball deflecting off Dravid's right elbow.
Remarkably, it is the sixth time in seven stints in the middle that 'The Wall' has had his castle disturbed.
Overall Dravid has been bowled nine times in his past 11 Test digs.
When Tendulkar walked out to the crease, he was afforded what has become a customary standing ovation.
Tendulkar was particularly watchful in the final hour, scoring just one run off his last 28 balls, the Little Master determined to continue the resurrection mission, alongside Gambhir, who has looked good so far.
Earlier, Australia captain Michael Clarke declared the home side's innings closed shortly after tea following Harris' pulled six which raised the 600.
Harris (35 not out) supported Brad Haddin (42 not out) in an unbroken 71-run stand for the eighth wicket, after Ricky Ponting (221) and Clarke (210) supplied the real fireworks.
The present captain and former skipper joined forces before lunch on day one and were unconquered for more than three sessions to rip the contest right out of India's grasp.
Ponting's was his sixth double ton, while Clarke - who was bowled by Umesh Yadav three balls after lunch - became the first Test captain and third player in Test history, after Sir Donald Bradman and Wally Hammond, to register a triple century and a double ton in the same series as his amazing run of form continued.
Prior to this series, Clarke's highest Test score was 168, against New Zealand in Wellington.
It was also the first time since 1965 that there had been two double centuries in the same innings for Australia.
Ponting and Clarke took full advantage of the batsman-friendly conditions, their 386-run partnership the highest in all Tests at