PHOTOS, Day 2: Australia in driver's seat; enjoy run-fest in SCG

Smith continued his extraordinary run of form and completed his fourth century in as many matches with a composed 117

Australia declared on 572 for seven shortly after tea while India were 71 for one on Day 2 in the fourth and final Test against India

The visitors trail by 501 runs with Lokesh Rahul (31 not out) and Rohit Sharma (40 not out) fighting on

The hosts have already secured the four-Test series after wins in Adelaide and Brisbane

Check out the images from Day 2 of the fourth Test between Australia and India played at Sydney Cricket Ground

Captain Steven Smith continued his dream run by notching up his fourth century of the series as Australia piled up a mammoth 572 for seven declared to put themselves firmly in the driver's seat in the fourth and final cricket Test against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday.

Scorecard

In reply, India lost opener Murali Vijay for a nought only to recover and end the second day on 71 for one. The visitors trail by 501 runs with Lokesh Rahul (31 not out) and Rohit Sharma (40 not out) fighting on.

The young Australian captain, who has been in stupendous form, scored 117 to record his eighth Test ton and put Australia in a commanding position with useful contributions from Shane Watson (81), Shaun Marsh (73) and Joe Burns (58) on yet another disappointing day for the visitors.

Scorecard

Smith joined South Africa's Jacques Kallis as the only batsmen to score hundreds in every match of a four-Test series with a composed 117 as Australia declared on 572 for seven shortly after tea on day two at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Smith continued his extraordinary run of form, following up his 162 not out in the first Test in Adelaide, 133 in the second Test in Brisbane and 192 in the third Test in Melbourne with another hundred.

Earlier, resuming at the overnight score of 348 for two, the hosts rode on a 196-run third wicket partnership between Smith and Watson to take the attack back to the opposition as Mohammed Shami picked up a five-wicket haul.

Smith played a defiant knock to post his fourth ton in this series only to be caught behind off Umesh Yadav (1-137) in the 114th over of the innings.

The Indians, understandably, were more sedate in their reply after losing Vijay and Lokesh and Sharma stitched an unbeaten 71-run stand to raise hopes of revival come day three.

Rohit and Rahul batted with patience for much of the final session of play, with the 50-mark coming in the 19th over. But there were some nerves towards the end as the bowlers searched for one more breakthrough before end of play.

Earlier, Australia had continued their charge towards a high first innings total after tea. 

Australia also lost Shane Watson for 81 in the morning session then Shaun Marsh after lunch for 73, leaving Joe Burns unbeaten on 52 and Brad Haddin seven not out with an early declaration likely after tea.

Watson and Smith added 196 for the third wicket after openers David Warner (101) and Chris Rogers (95) put on an even 200 on the first day as Australia's top order cashed in on a flat pitch perfect for batting.

Watson, batting cautiously after a lean run in the three previous Tests, looked set to register just his fifth Test hundred since making his Test debut a decade ago, only to throw his wicket away with a rash shot.

His dismissal marked the 24th time Watson had made a Test half-century but failed to go on and reach triple figures.

Post-lunch, Marsh and Burns looked to heap further misery on the visiting bowling attack and they did just that, putting on 114 runs for the 5th wicket without much fuss.

The 450-mark came up for Australia in the 127th over as the two batsmen kept plugging for runs.

Marsh brought up his second successive half-century of the series in the 137th over, facing 87 balls. His knock included one six and there were hints of aggression from both batsmen towards the latter half of this second session.

The 500-mark thereafter came up in the 143rd over and an over later they brought up their 100-run stand.

In the 146th over, when Burns reached his maiden Test fifty off 94 balls, India became the first team to allow four opposition teams with their top six batsmen all scoring half-centuries in the same innings.

They got some respite when Marsh was out close to the break, caught behind off Shami. But Haddin came out looking to play his shots, hinting that the declaration may come up shortly in the last session on Tuesday.