Andrew Symonds was frank enough to admit that he had copped the luckiest of breaks at the SCG on Wednesday afternoon, agreeing that he had nicked Ishant Sharma to Mahendra Singh Dhoni when on just 30. Symonds went on to make an unbeaten 137, pulling Australia to 376 for seven at stumps on day one of the second Test against India.

The 32-year-old, however, could afford to be magnanimous in writing it off as a plain human error on the part of Steve Bucknor, at 61 the oldest member in the so called 'Elite' panel of ICC umpires. “I was very lucky,” Symonds told newsmen in the evening. “I was out on 30 and given not out. That's cricket. I could sit here and tell you about some bad decisions as well, but I won't. People make mistakes, players make mistakes, umpires do too.” Despite having played the key part in Australia recovering from134 for six, the burly Queenslander sought to put things in perspective. “The innings won't mean much till the end of the game,” he said of his second Test century. “It's a feeling of satisfaction but it will mean more if we can have a result in the Test.”

Australia fought their way back through a 173-run stand between Symonds and Brad Hogg, enjoying his return to Test cricket after four years with a maiden half-century. “Brad played very sensibly. There was one chance that went over mid-on, apart from that, I'm really proud of him,” Symonds noted. “We slowly worked the momentum back in our favour. India bowled well, but did not have as much luck as they could have. 400 is a very healthy first-innings score. We would hope we wouldn't lose the game from there. It would be a very handy score.”

Hogg came out with a positive approach, taking on India's bowlers without taking any chances. “I got to 70 and I started thinking about the hundred,” said the 36-year-old, who made 79. “It's just fantastic to have a good partnership with my good mate Andrew and to knock a couple of records off. It's a fantastic feeling to have a good innings for Australia.” The stand was Australia's highest for the seventh wicket against India, well clear of the 108 Steve Waugh and Shane Warne had added in Adelaide some eight years back. “It was exciting to be in front of Andrew for a while but he showed who was boss and got to 100 before I got to 70 and put me back in my place,” laughed Hogg, the early aggressor in their partnership. “It was just exciting to be there, it was a fantastic innings for Andrew.”

 Hogg stressed that his primary role in the side was to take wickets. “It's good to get runs on the board but I'm here for my bowling and hopefully I can get the wickets required for the team.”