Cracks playing a huge role for spinners and quicks - Wade

Wicketkeeper Matthew Wade has said Australia will look to exploit the same conditions that helped India take ten wickets when play resumes on the second day of the deciding Test in Dharamsala.

While six of Australia's batsmen fell to spin, four to Kuldeep Yadav on debut, the pace and bounce offered by the pitch will encourage Australia's pace attack, as evidenced by the solitary over delivered by Josh Hazlewood before stumps, in which he had the ball zipping through nicely. Wade said the pitch offered the "best carry" in the series thus far.

"That was quite enjoyable to have the ball coming in around shoulder height from behind the stumps," Wade said. "That was something you get a little bit excited about.

"Hopefully that can continue with the new ball tomorrow and Patty [Cummins] and Josh can pick up a couple of early wickets. But it's definitely the best carry we've seen throughout the whole series for sure.

"The cracks are playing a huge role, with the spinners as well as the quicks. So, we will be looking to get a bit out of the cracks in the wicket tomorrow. Hopefully, we can create ten opportunities."

On a day where Steven Smith yet again appeared to be batting on a different level to his team-mates, there were also timely half-centuries by David Warner - who was dropped on the first ball of the match - and Wade, in what was the first instance of either player passing 50 during the series.

Smith and Warner took Australia to 144 for the loss of just one wicket, but Kuldeep's post-lunch spell turned the favour of the opening day, and Wade admitted Australia had squandered their positive start.

"I suppose a little bit yeah," Wade said. "1 for 140 after lunch, you'd hope to push on. But it was credit to the Indians, they bowled really well through the middle session and we had to find a way to grind out 300. I thought to get there in the end was a good effort."

Smith has now made seven centuries in his past eight Tests against India and, while his batting might provide a blueprint for his team-mates, it's questionable whether any of them could perform at the same level as their captain in his current form.

"It looks that easy for him," Wade said. "It's obviously not that easy for him when he's out there. But from sitting off the ground, it's like he's playing a different game for sure. He's the best player in the world at the moment but he's on track to be one of the greatest players Australia has ever seen."