Steve Smith’s domination of India reached farcical heights as Australia amassed a total of 530 on day two of the Boxing Day Test.
Smith’s remarkable run continued on Saturday, when the 25-year-old compiled a career-high 192 to essentially bat the tourists out of the MCG clash.
Tea was called when Smith’s stumps were rattled by Umesh Yadav, ending Australia’s first innings.
But the hosts have one hand on the Border-Gavaskar trophy given India need a win in Melbourne to keep the four-Test series alive.
That looks an unthinkable outcome following Smith’s third century in as many Tests, adding to the 133 he scored at the Gabba and 162no at Adelaide Oval earlier this month.
The tons in Brisbane and Melbourne came in his first two Tests as captain – no other Australian has ever achieved the feat.
Support acts Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson and Ryan Harris were all thoroughly entertaining, especially Harris who belted his highest Test score of 74 from 88 balls.
But it was Smith who rocked the MCG.
Australia resumed on 5-259 with the game in the balance and Smith on 72.
The right-hander became the 13th Australian to score centuries in three consecutive Tests shortly after the morning drinks break.
Smith was in much discomfort after being hit on the box by Yadav in the 104th over, but composed himself to pass 500 runs in the four-Test series.
He continued to score freely after lunch, with India captain MS Dhoni keeping the field back and gifting easy singles.
When Ravichandran Ashwin trapped Harris lbw, it was Smith’s turn to swing freely and up the run-rate.
Smith danced down the wicket and lofted a six into the crowd off Ashwin to pass his highest Test score.
Reverse-sweeps and audacious cross-batted swipes followed from Smith, who destroyed India’s hopes of rolling Australia cheaply after having them 5-216 on day one.
Earlier it was Brad Haddin (55) who struck the first blows as he made a mockery of India’s bouncer barrage.
Haddin’s overnight score was 23.
He needed five overs to turn that into a half-century, smacking six boundaries along the way.
Ian Chappell was stunned by India’s short-pitched approach and leg-side fields.
“This has been horrible captaincy from MS Dhoni. He’s given his bowlers no chance at all,” Chappell said, while calling the game for the Nine Network.
“His tactics this morning have been designed to help Australia … it’s senseless captaincy.
“Particularly with Haddin, they might as well have held up a sign (that bouncers were coming).”
India failed to kick on after snapping the 110-run partnership between Haddin and Smith, mucking up a run-out opportunity when Johnson was on one with the score at 6-331.
