David Warner and Varun Aaron were involved in a heated exchange as Australia built a 212-run lead at tea on day four of the first Test against India.

Warner was unbeaten on 69 at the end of Friday’s second session, having pushed his side’s second-innings total to 1-139 at Adelaide Oval.

Warner’s pursuit of a second century in the match looked to be over when he was bowled on 66 by Aaron, the out-of-form express paceman giving him a send-off.

Replays showed Aaron overstepped so Warner was recalled, promoting the pugnacious left-hander to return serve.

“Come on!,” Warner seemed to yell as he put his helmet back on.

Shane Watson, Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan all joined the ruckus, swapping terse words before umpire Ian Gould eventually calmed the two sides down.

Warner (69no) and Watson (33no) formed an unbeaten partnership worth 101 runs, leaving Australia well placed to bat India out of the game.

With four sessions remaining in the match, the timing of Michael Clarke’s declaration will be critical to Australia’s hopes of starting the four-Test series with a win.

Rain ruined most of day two, further complicating the equation.

The highest victorious fourth-innings Test total at the venue was Australia’s 6-315 in 1902.

However, India scored 445 in a loss almost 40 years ago in Adelaide and South Africa’s stonewall in the epic 2012 draw won’t be forgotten for some time.

India’s woes with the ball continued on Friday, with Chris Rogers the only wicket to fall in the middle session.

Aaron, given the new ball on Tuesday, wasn’t called into the attack until the 32nd over of the second dig.

Kohli had preferred part-timers Murali Vijay and Rohit Sharma before turning to Aaron.

However, India have given every indication they won’t crumble meekly with the bat.

The visitors amassed a first-innings total of 444, with Nathan Lyon running through their tail on Friday morning.

Lyon finished with figures of 5-134 from 36 overs, flighting the ball and attacking the rough created by Ishant Sharma’s footmarks.

The offspinner was introduced into the attack in the ninth over of the fourth day, instantly troubling Rohit Sharma and Wriddhiman Saha.

The next over Lyon dismissed Sharma, diving to his right and snaffling a catch when the right-hander was on 43.

Lyon’s turn removed Saha on 25, umpire Ian Gould judging the ball to have found a fine edge en route to Shane Watson at first slip.

It was Lyon’s bounce that troubled Ishant Sharma, the seamer lunging forward and popping up a simple catch to Steve Smith.

Lyon should have dismissed Mohammed Shami on nine, but Peter Siddle was seemingly worried about the rope and fumbled a catch in the deep.

Shami smashed an enterprising 34 off 24 balls before finally falling to Siddle, ending India’s innings.