AFP

ADELAIDE DOUBLE centuries by Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting and another shaky start by India’s stuttering batsman left the visitors under pressure in the fourth Test in Adelaide on Wednesday.

Skipper Clarke declared for the second time in the onesided series — this time at 604 for seven — before his bowlers claimed two early wickets to put Australia well on top at the end the second day.

India was 61 for two at stumps in reply with Sachin Tendulkar, chasing his elusive 100th international century, unbeaten on 12 and Gautam Gambhir 30 not out.

Clarke hit 210 and Ponting 221 in an Australian innings that had the beleaguered Indians toiling in the field under a hot sun for 10 and a half hours.

They then grabbed the key wickets of under-fire opener Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid in the 21 overs to stumps to have the tourists reeling with three days left and a mountain to climb to avoid a 4-0 series defeat.

“It was probably more about the runs, to be honest, trying to get to 600,” Clarke said on the timing of his declaration.

Earlier Clarke called a halt to Australia’s run onslaught midway through the final session after Ryan Harris clouted Umesh Yadav for six.

Clarke and Ponting shared in Australia’s fourth-highest ever partnership of 386. The top three stands all featured the great Don Bradman.

Their stand also eclipsed the highest overall partnership at the Adelaide Oval of 341 made by South Africans Eddie Barlow and Graeme Pollock in 1964.