Australia’s domination of India at the SCG reached unprecedented levels at tea on day two of the fourth Test, with the hosts 5-538.

Steve Smith’s sparkling 117 was the highlight of a top order that touched up the tourists’ trundlers in record fashion.

Shaun Marsh and Joe Burns both posted half-centuries in their 114-run stand, which ended with Marsh caught behind in the third-last over before tea.

Never before has Australia’s top six all passed 50 in the same Test innings.

The milestone came as Marsh and Burns ensured Australia tallied more than 500 runs in their first innings of every Test in the four-match series.

The most recent time the side managed the feat in four consecutive Tests came against the West Indies in 1968-69.

Given the absence of a mercy rule, the visitors will almost certainly have to wait for Smith’s declaration.

Burns is 52 not out, while Brad Haddin is on seven after smacking his first delivery for six.

Offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin continued to toil astutely and snaffled a catch in the deep to dismiss Shane Watson for 81 in the morning session.

But India otherwise proceeded to fold meekly in their final clash before World Cup preparations begin in earnest.

The status quo of misfields, miserable bowling and a lifeless pitch continued when Australia resumed at 2-348 on day two.

It remains to be seen where the zenith of Smith’s career-best form is, but the SCG was the scene of his fourth century in the four-Test series.

Many records have tumbled over the past month and Smith is well placed to break further new ground in Sydney.

Smith needs only 18 more runs to surpass Sir Donald Bradman’s tally of 715 as the best effort by an Australian in a Test series against India.

The 25-year-old made it look absurdly easy – shuffling down the pitch, clipping balls off his pads and striking sweetly timed cover drives.

He looked to the skies in memory of Phillip Hughes upon reaching triple figures on Wednesday, having dished out the appropriate treatment to a full toss from Umesh Yadav.

Watson trudged off with his head down after picking out Ashwin in the deep.

But with the hosts at 3-400, Watson helped bat Australia to a point of early dominance that they hadn’t enjoyed in a Test for almost 15 years.

Not since Australia were 3-489 against England at The Oval in 2001 had the side had so many runs at the fall of the third wicket in a Test innings.

Marsh and Burns had some nervous moments late in the first session, with Murali Vijay putting down a chance at gully when Marsh was on nine.

But the raw pair soon settled.

Burns hammered consecutive fours in the first over after lunch, while Marsh lashed a six the following over as the hosts started to up the run rate.