Melbourne - Steve Smith pounded India into virtual submission with a majestic innings to lay the platform for Australia to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the third Test in Melbourne on Saturday.
Smith hit an imperious 192 off 305 balls to spearhead Australia to a massive 530 late on the second day. The home side lead the four-match series 2-0.
Smith tossed away his wicket going for an extravagant big shot as India ringed the boundary ropes to limit the scoring carnage.
The new skipper was aided by lusty knocks from Brad Haddin (55), Mitchell Johnson (28) and Ryan Harris (74) as Australia bludgeoned the Indian attack.
It was Smith's highest Test score, surpassing his unbeaten 162 in the first Adelaide Test and his third century of the series.
India's captain M.S. Dhoni simply had no answer to stopping the run flow and the tourists faced a mighty challenge to avoid defeat over the remaining three and a bit days of the Boxing Day Test.
Smith unfurled his unconventional shot-making to punish the Indian attack and danced down the wicket to plonk spinner Ravi Ashwin high into the stands with a prodigious six to eclipse his previous highest Test score.
As a double-century beckoned for Smith, Dhoni placed all his fielders in the outfield in damage limitation but in the end the Aussie skipper threw away his wicket going for a big heave off Umesh Yadav only to have his stumps shattered.
Smith has accumulated 567 runs in the series at an average of 189.
Paceman Harris brought up his highest Test score with a six off Ashwin and then was out next ball leg before wicket for 74 off 88 balls.
He put on 106 runs for the eighth wicket with Smith and looked at ease against the flailing Indian bowlers.
Nathon Lyon was out going for a big heave off Mohammed Shami for 11 with another 48 runs added off 38 balls.
Australia lost two wickets in the morning session but added 130 runs to their overnight score of 259 for five.
Haddin played himself back into form after a run of 15 innings without a fifty, reaching his 18th Test half-century and his highest score for almost a year with his 55.
The veteran wicketkeeper tried to leave a Shami delivery but got a bottom edge and was caught behind.
Haddin put on 110 runs for the sixth wicket with Smith, while Johnson hit a breezy 28 off 37 balls with five fours before he was stumped off Ashwin shortly before lunch.
Sapa-AFP