Steve Smith put the heat on Australia’s top order to step up at the SCG in the fourth Test and they delivered in record-breaking style.
Smith declared shortly after tea on day two against India, the skipper’s sparkling 117 the highlight of a top order that amassed 7-572.
India were 1-71 at stumps on Wednesday, their touched-up trundlers having surrendered any hope of victory.
Never before has Australia’s top six all passed 50 in the same Test innings.
“That’s outstanding,” Smith said.
“Before this Test match, I said to the boys I wanted the batters to do the work.
“We’ve relied a lot on the tail the last couple of Test matches and I said the batters had to step up.”
Now comes the tricky part for Smith, engineering 19 more wickets on a pitch offering little assistance.
The 25-year-old predicted a Test of toil for his team as they sought to win the series 3-0.
“It’s not the kind of wicket where you can blast sides out. It’s about staying patient and, hopefully, the patience pays off,” Smith said.
“It hasn’t changed at all the last couple of days.
“Hopefully, it breaks up a bit.”
Ryan Harris detected a hint of reverse swing late on day two, but India showed more fight with the bat in 25 overs than they managed in 152.3 overs with the ball.
Rohit Sharma, recalled and batting at first drop in a reshuffled order, heaved two sixes off Nathan Lyon to steady his side after Murali Vijay was dismissed in the opening over.
Earlier, Harris borrowed David Warner’s bat and belted 25 off nine balls.
Harris’ dismissal triggered the end of India’s punishment, Smith declaring 3.3 overs into the final session.
The status quo of misfields, miserable bowling and a lifeless pitch continued when Australia resumed at 2-348 on day two.
Mohammed Shami grabbed a five-wicket haul, while offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin bowled astutely in 47 overs and snaffled a catch in the deep to dismiss Shane Watson for 81 in the morning session.
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.
He 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.
“That’s what you are after, isn’t it? When you are on 98, it’s nice to get one there,” Smith said.
Shaun Marsh and Joe Burns had some nervous pre-lunch moments, with Vijay putting down a chance at gully when Marsh was on nine.
But the raw pair soon settled in a 114-run stand, joining David Warner, Chris Rogers, Watson and Smith in passing 50.
