Smith should have bowled in Ranchi: Clarke

Former Australia captain Michael Clarke says Steve Smith should have bowled and used Glenn Maxwell more often during India's marathon innings in Ranchi.

Former Australia captain Michael Clarke says Steve Smith should have bowled in Ranchi. (AAP)

Australia skipper Steve Smith missed a trick by not bowling himself and using Glenn Maxwell more often during India's marathon first innings in Ranchi, according to Michael Clarke.

The top-ranked Test side resumed at 6-360 on day four of the third Test, still trailing Australia by 91 runs. The match was in the balance.

Cheteshwar Pujara and Wriddhiman Saha's partnership extended well past lunch on Sunday.

The batsmen didn't score in a hurry but wore down the visiting bowlers.

Left-arm spinner Steve O'Keefe smashed the record for most overs delivered by an Australian in a Test innings in India, which had been Alan Davidson's 57.3 overs in 1959.

Smith stuck to his guns in an attempt to break the stubborn stand.

The four frontline bowlers had delivered a total of more than 170 overs late in Sunday's post-lunch session.

Allrounder Maxwell, called into the XI following Mitch Marsh's shoulder injury, had delivered two overs at that stage.

Smith, who started his career as a legspinning allrounder, had yet to roll his arm over once.

"Maxwell should definitely have bowled more than two overs ... If India continue like this, (Smith) is not going to have a choice," former captain Clarke said on Star Sports, critiquing his successor's tactics.

"Maxwell needs to be bowling more than two overs. He needs to be given a chance.

"On good batting wickets, if you keep doing the same things then you're going to keep getting the same results.

"Australia missed a trick yesterday. They were quite defensive with their fields, a new batsman came out and there were three or four guys on the boundary."

Clarke said Maxwell was a confidence player and would have been riding high after his maiden Test ton.

"Keep him involved in the game as much as you can. Because he's got that Midas touch about him, he just finds a way to get a run-out or a wicket," Clarke said.

Smith noted before the start of the four-Test series that a side strain had prevented him bowling much in the nets.

"If it's out in the middle and it's needed, we can look at that then but hopefully the spinners that we have can do the job for us," Smith said.