India took too long to bowl short: Lee

Brett Lee has questioned the defensive tactics of India's bowlers in this first Commonwealth Bank Test as Australia continued to pile on the runs on day two.

Having conceded 354 runs in just under 90 overs yesterday, including 40 from the first four overs, the Indians leaked another 163 runs in 30.4 overs on a rain-shortened second day.

And despite Michael Clarke battling a serious lower back injury - which he suffered evading a Ishant Sharma bouncer on day one - the Indians bowled only a handful of short balls to the Aussie skipper today as he bravely registered his 28th Test hundred.

Clarke, who was administered a pain-killing injection in his lower back on Tuesday evening, appeared to be in discomfort on the rare occasion he was forced to evade or pull a short ball in the morning session.

And with the second new ball just 15 overs old, debutant legspinner Karn Sharma was brought into the attack, allowing Clarke to inch his way towards a record seventh Test century at the Adelaide Oval.

Any questions about the role of the short ball in the game in the wake of Phillip Hughes's passing seemed to dissipate in the third over of the match yesterday, when speedster Varun Aaron had David Warner ducking out of the way of a fierce bouncer.

But it wasn't until the final session of play today, when Clarke was on 98, that India actively pursued a short-pitched plan of attack, with Aaron bowling around the wicket and men set back on the leg-side boundary.

Lee says it was a case of too little, too late.

"India were on the defensive right from ball one," Lee told cricket.com.au

"It had to be a new-ball wicket, they had to get early wickets against the Australians, who have got such a great top five batting order.

"(But) they really just lobbed the ball up on a length.

"They bowled wide, they bowled full, there was no aggression, there was no short stuff.

"You've got to feel for them too with what they've been through.

"Maybe the whole etiquette of 'can I bowl a short ball' (held them back).

"But once that first bouncer was bowled and once Ishant Sharma came on (on day one) ... they the seemed to believe that they could get wickets and it was OK to bowl a bouncer, which it is.

"That's the game of cricket, the game has to go on and I mean that in the most respectful way possible.

"But it's too late to bowl short balls to Michael Clarke when he's on 98."

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Given Clarke has had to overcome the loss of his "little brother" Hughes just to play in this Test, not to mention the physical hurdles of hamstring and back injuries, Lee said the 33-year-old's century would be remembered as the best of his decorated career.

And the former Test quick noted that three of Hughes's former state teammates and closest allies - Clarke, David Warner and Steve Smith - had all reached triple figures in this match.

"I reckon this will be his most special moment, to score that hundred," Lee said of Clarke.

"There's a lot of emotion just ... with the issues with his back, and then keeping in mind what he's been through over the past couple of weeks with the passing of Phillip Hughes.

"It's been a very emotional Test match.

"He didn't have much to offer other than his sheer determination to go out there and score runs.

"It's funny that those three guys who have probably been the closest to Phillip Hughes have all gone out, knuckled down and each got a hundred.

"There were a lot of question marks surrounding the Australian cricket team 48 hours ago.

"Were they ready, were they ready to take on the battle, was it too soon after what we've been through and certainly what they've been through.

"But they've come out ... and cherished it.