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Michael Clarke walks back to the dressing room after injuring his back on day one. Source: Getty Images
FOLLOW our live coverage of the first Test between Australian and India at the Adelaide Oval.
A shower or two is expected in Adelaide, with a top temperature of 27C.
Play gets underway at 11.10am AEDT.
LIVE SCOREBOARD: AUSTRALIA vs INDIA
Scroll to the bottom of the page for blow-by-blow coverage
4.35pm — COVERS ARE BACK ON
Michael Clarke has moved to 109 not out Source: News Corp Australia
THE weather is the only thing capable of stopping Australia from scoring right now and unfortunately it’s raining again.
Steve Smith (142 not out) and Michael Clarke (109 not out) added another quick-fire 50 in between showers to take Australia to 6/473 but are back in the changerooms.
4pm — CLARKE FIGHTS BACK TEARS AFTER REACHING 100
Michael Clarke’s second century of 2014 will be remembered as one of his best. Source: Getty Images
MICHAEL Clarke’s face was filled with raw emotion after he finally reached triple figures in Adelaide.
The Aussie skipper made a surprise return this morning after retiring hurt on 60 yesterday and then was forced to wait for almost two hours on 98 not out because of a rain delay.
But the century he desperately wanted to honour fallen teammate Phillip Hughes finally came as he clipped a Varun Aaron delivery off his thighs.
It’s Clarke’s 28th Test hundred and continues his love affair with Adelaide Oval.
His career scores at the venue are 7, 124, 21*, 118, 110, 71, 61*, 2, 80, 210, 37, 230, 38, 148, 22 at an average of more than 100.
Steve Smith has opened his shoulders since play resumed and is now 126 not out. Australia is 6/452.
A kiss for a champion: Clarke greets wife Kyly during the rain delay. Source: Getty Images
2.10pm — CLARKE STRANDED ON 98 NOT OUT
Clarke is agonisingly close to triple figures. Source: AFP
ANOTHER rain delay — and a heavier one at that — has thwarted Michael Clarke’s plans to reach his century.
The Aussie skipper had moved to 98 not out when showers again began to fall at Adelaide Oval.
Clarke will now face a similar wait to Steve Smith — who spent almost two hours inside the changerooms on 98 not out before moving past triple figures just before the current rain delay.
Australia is 6/423. The delay is expected to last for at least half an hour.
2pm — SMITH REACHES CENTURY, WALKS TO 408
Steve Smith honours Phillip Hughes after scoring his ton. Source: Getty Images
AFTER a long rain delay Steve Smith wasted no time in scoring the two runs needed to reach his century.
The 25-year-old clipped Varun Aaron through the leg side and comfortably made it back for two to reach 100.
He walked immediately towards the large 408 (Phillip Hughes’s Test number) painted on Adelaide Oval before pointing to the sky.
Australia reached a team score of 408 the following over, prompting another round of applause from the crowd.
Michael Clarke is 97 not out.
1.40pm — PLAYERS RETURN TO FIELD ... THEN IT RAINS AGAIN
India's captain Virat Kohli leads his team off the field. Source: AFP
PERSISTENT light showers in Adelaide continue to delay day two of the second Test.
The Indian team emerged from its changerooms just moments ago but as players prepared to take their fielding positions it started raining again.
12.45pm — COVERS REMAIN ON IN ADELAIDE
Three spectators attempt to hide from the rain. Source: News Corp Australia
The stoppage has given Kyly Clarke an opportunity to read up on her husband’s exploits yesterday. Source: News Corp Australia
Play will resume at 1.30pm (AEDT) if weather permits.
Steve Smith (98 not out) and Michael Clarke (85 not out) have guided Australia to 6/405.
12.10pm — RAIN DELAY HALTS RUN CHARGE
Smith has rarely been troubled by the Indian attack. Source: News Corp Australia
LIGHT showers have forced players from the field in Adelaide, leaving Steve Smith stranded on 98 not out.
The plucky middle order batsman was closing in on his third ton of 2014 but will have to wait to join David Warner as a first innings century-maker.
Michael Clarke isn’t far away from joining him, hitting his way to 85 not out despite being hampered by a back injury.
Australia has added 51 runs from 12.2 overs this morning.
11.30am — SMITH, CLARKE EYEING CENTURIES
Clarke sends the ball through the off side. Source: Getty Images
STEVE Smith and Michael Clarke have made a comfortable start to day two, closing in on triple figures as Australia looks to push past 400.
Smith (86 not out) and Clarke (74 not out) look determined to post tons to honour former teammate Phillip Hughes and quickly added 28 runs from the first five overs today.
11.10am — CLARKE BATTING AGAIN
Clarke walks out to bat on day two. Source: Getty Images
MICHAEL Clarke has miraculously walked out to bat for Australia, despite suffering a recurrence of a chronic back injury.
The Australian captain resumed his innings on 60 not out, joining Steve Smith, who started day two on 72.
Clarke missed the opportunity to recognise Phillip Hughes on 63, passing directly to 64 with a boundary through the off side.
10.30am — SHORT RAIN DELAY IN ADELAIDE
THE start of today’s second day of the first Test will be delayed by 10 minutes after light rain this morning at the Adelaide Oval.
Australia is due to resume at 6/354 with Steve Smith undefeated on 72.
10am — CLARKE SET TO PAD UP
Michael Clarke squats in the nets to test out his injury before day two. Source: Getty Images
Clarke has had a net session at Adelaide Oval this morning and is expected to courageously walk out to the middle alongside Steve Smith this morning once play starts.
The 33-year-old has suffered a serious flare-up of his chronic back injury according to team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris, and would appear in serious doubt for upcoming Test matches.
It’s believed the injury could be more serious than the one he suffered in the middle of 2013 which ruled him out for the entire Champions Trophy tournament.
However, after being filled with pain-killing injections at hospital and enduring a long night of intensive physio treatment, Clarke is bravely planning not to leave Australia stranded in the first Test.
9.45am — AUSSIES SWEATING ON CLARKE FITNESS
Michael Clarke leaves the field injured on day one of the first Test. Source: Getty Images
AUSTRALIA will resume on 6-354 when day two of the first Test starts at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday, with Michael Clarke clinging to hope he can return to the crease.
Centurion David Warner and Clarke shared an emotional 118-run stand against India on Tuesday, however it ended when the captain retired hurt in the 44th over.
Clarke was sent for scans and received injections in his lower back.
“The medical staff will see how he pulls up tomorrow morning,†a Cricket Australia spokeswoman said yesterday.
According to the Nine Network, Clarke did not attempt to bend over as he faced throw downs at the Adelaide Oval this morning.
Clarke’s chronic back injury flared up when he watched an unthreatening delivery from Ishant Sharma sail down the leg side. It was an innocuous incident, but the pain was immediately obvious.
The side’s doctor Peter Brukner and physio Alex Kountouris rushed to treat Clarke, with the 33-year-old stretching his troublesome back before trudging off the field.
— with AAP