Australia were 583 for four in the first innings, in reply to India's 191, at lunch on the third day of the second cricket Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) here Thursday.

Michael Clarke started slowly but soon crossed the highest score ever by an Australian against India when he added six more runs to his overnight total.


Australian captain Michael Clarke.Pic/Suresh K.K.

It took him past 257, the highest-ever innings by an Australian against India, which Ricky Ponting had made during the Melbourne Test of 2003-04.

The pair raised the 200 for the stand when Hussey cut Umesh Yadav crisply past the point boundary. It took 206 minutes and 307 balls for the 200-run stand.

Clarke swept Ashwin to square leg fence through a packed onside field to move to 280 which took him past 277 that Brian Lara made at this venue in a 1992-93 series.

Scoreboard:

India: (Ist Innings) 191