Michael Hussey struck his ninth Test century to steer Australia into a strong position at the end of the second day of the first Test in Bangalore.

Hussey, whose innings included 15 fours and one six, added to Ricky Ponting’s first day century to leave Australia in a commanding position at 430 all out after their first innings. The left-hander reached his century, his second in Tests against India, with an inside edge before Zaheer Kahn, who took 5-91 for India, bowled the Australian for 146.

Australia started the day on 254-4, but lost Shane Watson (2) early on to Ishant Sharma. Hussey and Brad Haddin, the wicketkeeper-batsman, added 91 for the sixth wicket before Sharma returned after lunch to get Haddin for 33 and debutant Cameron White for six.

Zaheer returned to take the final three wickets, and claim his sixth five-wicket haul in Tests, but it was Hussey and Australia who dominated early on day two.

By the close, India's openers Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag had reduced some of the advantage with an unbeaten 68-run stand for the opening wicket. Sehwag was the aggressor reaching stumps on 43 while Gambhir was on 20 when a sharp shower ended play nine overs early.

Ishant claimed an early wicket in the morning session, dismissing Shane Watson in the second over of the day. Watson, playing his first Test in three years, added just two runs to the Australian total when he was bowled with a delivery that moved off the seam.

Hussey, who resumed from his overnight 46, was looked untroubled as he struck vital partnerships with Brad Haddin and later Brett Lee to carry Australia past the 400-run mark.

Hussey and Haddin (33) had added 91 runs for the sixth wicket with the wicketkeeper-batsman looking good for more when he was dismissed by Ishant just after lunch. Ishant had patiently baited Haddin with a few deliveries down the corridor and then reeled the New South Welshman in with a slower delivery.

Haddin was early into his shot and scooped the ball to VVS Laxman at short cover. Cameron White's (two) first Test innings with the bat was brief. He too fell to a slower delivery from Ishant, but the Indian attack - insipid with the exception of Ishant - failed to swing momentum their way.

Hussey put on 59 runs with Brett Lee (27), but their association was ended by Zaheer just after tea. The left-arm paceman first bowled Lee in the second over after tea, with one that kept low and straightened a touch.

Zaheer then cleaned up Mitchell Johnson (one) with an inswinger that took the inside edge before rattling the timber and Hussey was the second victim in the same over, the left-hand batsman also falling in similar fashion. By then, Hussey, who had thrown caution to the wind after the fall of Lee, had clobbered 15 boundaries and a six off Harbhajan Singh over long-on.

Zaheer conceded 91 runs in the 29.5 overs he bowled. Leg-spinner Anil Kumble bowled 43 overs and conceded 129 runs without taking a wicket, while off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who had claimed the wicket of Ricky Ponting on Thursday, bowled 41 overs for 103 runs.

The Australians then had an hour and a half at the Indian batsman, but they were unable to find the breakthrough that would have given them a firmer grip on the game. Sehwag especially looked comfortable, finding the boundary on seven occasions, as he and Gambhir reached the close.

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