Australia 376-7 India: 'I was out on 30' says 137 Symonds

The Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds savaged India's bowling yesterday before admitting he should have been given out long before he completed his second Test century.

Symonds scored a brilliant 137 not out as Australia fought back from 134 for 6 to reach stumps on the first day of the second Test on 376 for 7.

The 32-year-old confirmed later, however, that he should have been back in the pavilion much earlier, only to be rescued by a mistake from the veteran umpire Steve Bucknor, who failed to detect an outside edge when Symonds wafted at a leg-cutter from Ishant Sharma.

"I was really lucky. I was out when I was 30 and given not out that's cricket though," Symonds said. "I can sit here and tell you about bad decisions [I've had] as well but I won't."

Symonds took the fight to the Indian attack in tandem with Brad Hogg, with the pair putting on 173 for the seventh wicket, as the hosts ended the first day in a strong position. But he insisted that his knock would count for little unless Australia went on to win the match and so gain their record-equalling 16th consecutive Test win.

"It's always a nice feeling to score a hundred, but it will mean more to me if we can have a good result in this Test," Symonds said. "The innings won't mean much to me until the end of the game. I can look back and feel I've contributed to a win."

Symonds said of Hogg's 79: "I'm really proud of him. He played a sensible innings and we slowly started working the momentum back in our favour. Australian teams have always prided themselves on being able to fight back and show some mental toughness and heart."