PHOTOS: India v Australia, Mohali Test, Day 2

Australia failed to capitalise on a century partnership for the opening wicket and were reduced to 273 for 7 at stumps on Day 2 of the third Test against India, in Mohali, on Friday.

Comeback man Steven Smith and Mitchell Starc were unbeaten on 58 and 20 respectively at the end of the day's play.

Ravindra Jadeja was the man responsible for checking Australia's march after a solid opening partnership between Ed Cowan and David Warner, claiming three wickets for 56 runs. 

The Test finally commenced after rain clouds cleared up and Australia captain Michael Clarke won the toss and elected to bat.

Rain washed out the first day's play.

The pitch is expected to help the spinners, as plenty of cracks are visible on the surface.

India made two changes to the team, bringing in left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha for Harbhajan Singh, while Shikhar Dhawan replaced Virender Sehwag.

Pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar tried a bit extra in the beginning but struggled with his line and length.

Australia's openers Ed Cowan and David Warner batted sensibly. Warner collected the runs while Cowan was watchful.

The opening pair held fort bravely to keep the Indian bowlers at bay in the first sesion.

MS Dhoni surprised many by going on the defensive very early.

The Indian bowling hardly made an impression, and, as a result, the Aussies made good progress in the first hour.

Warner showed great patience to bring up his fifty off 105 balls. This was his seventh fifty in Tests.

Australia were 109 for no loss in 36 overs at lunch on the opening day.

The 'homework' seemed to have worked for Australia as their openers continued firmly post-lunch.

Warner and Cowan played patient knocks and looked good to add more to the team's total.

Ed Cowan brought up his fifty in style. He took 120 balls to complete his third fifty against India and broke his run of poor scores in the series.

Ravindra Jadeja finally provided the breakthrough for India, claiming the wicket of Warner.

Warner was caught by Dhoni, who ran forward after the ball looped off the batsman's bat-pad.

The opener fell after a matured knock of 71 from 147 balls. He and Cowan put on 139 runs for the opening wicket from 290 balls.

Michael Clarke's decision to go up from No 5 to No 3 in the batting order started disastrously.

Australia's captain was out for a duck, to the very first delivery he faced from Jadeja. The ball turned away sharply on landing, and an over-confident Clarke made the mistake of stepping out straightaway.

Australia were 180 for three in 72 overs at the tea break.

Australia's innings was in tatters by the end of the day with the loss of seven wickets in the final two sessions of play.

Ravindra Jadeja enjoyed a good spell after lunch with three wickets, including two in two deliveries.

Jadeja continued to wreak havoc in the Aussie innings. He immediately had Peter Siddle trapped in front of the wicket after the tea break.

But it was Ishant Sharma's late twin-strike that pushed Australia on the backfoot after Cowan and Warner gave Australia a brilliant start on the day.

Ishant had Brad Haddin and Moises Henriques bowled to reduce Australia to 244 for six late into the final session of play.

Making a return to the Test fold after more than two years, Steven Smith kept up Australia's hopes. Smith stood firm and showed the right mix of aggression and resolve against the Indian spinners.