Australia cracked 500 and finished their first innings 97 runs ahead of India at the Gabba on day 3, setting up a tight contest in an important match for the tourists who are behind 1-0 in the four test series.
Inspired batting from stand-in captain Steve Smith and cameos from Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc frustrated the Indian bowlers and entertained the crowd with plenty of boundaries as the Australians took command.
Two wickets fell early as Ishant Sharma and Varun Aaron bowled with venom at the body. Sharma removed Mitchell Marsh as the batsman attempted to leave a ball that nipped back, bottom edging onto his stumps for 11. Aaron fizzed a ball at Brad Haddin who did his best to play a shot, achieving only a pop to Pujara at short leg for 6.
Mitchell Johnson came to the crease at 6/247 with Australia still trailing by 161 runs. The Indian pace attack were fired up and channelled their adrenalin towards a seemingly vulnerable Johnson. Fortunately for Australia, this sparked something in the all-round tail ender who opened the shoulder blades and began to swat the tourists all over the ground.
Smith continued his sparkling form, he and Johnson adding 100 runs in just 82 balls. Steve Smith hit his maiden test century as captain of the Australia before an appreciative crowd who relished each of the 10 boundaries and 2 sixes that were dispatched to all quarters of the Gabba.
Johnson hit a half century of his own including 8 powerfully struck boundaries. His innings was ended by Sharma on 88 when he edged to slips. Smith followed after chopping on to his stumps for 133 also off the bowling of Sharma who finished with 3 wickets.
Smith has now scored 162*, 52* and 133 being dismissed only the once against India this summer.
The final two wickets for Australia cost India 100 runs, a feature of the Aussie side that India has failed to emulate so far this series. Mitchell Starc hit a half-century (52) and was provided excellent support by fellow paceman Josh Hazlewood who finished not out on 32.
India were 97 runs behind needing another impressive innings to establish a foot-hold in the test. Withstanding the initial onslaught, Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan rallied for 10 overs against the new ball.
Vijay was caught out by some extra Mitchell Starc bounce on 27, chopping on to his stumps as he attempted to let the ball go through to the keeper.
At 1-41 Mitchell Johnson smelled blood in the water and bowled an a typically excellent, firey spell to close out the days play. India remaining one down for 71 runs heading in to day four with Dhawan (26) and Pujara (15) at the crease.
