Andrew Symonds admitted he should have been given out on the way to his unbeaten century that hauled Australia out of a sticky position against India.
SYDNEY: Andrew Symonds admitted he should have been given out on the way to his unbeaten century that hauled Australia out of a sticky position against India in the second Test here on Wednesday.
The charismatic all-rounder claimed his second Test century, crunching an unbeaten 137 to deny India the knockout blow after the Australians had slumped to 134 for six in the 35th over.
He shared in a 173-run partnership with leg-spinner Brad Hogg to shatter a 44-year Sydney Cricket Ground Test record for the seventh wicket, lifting Australia to a healthy 376 for seven by stumps on the opening day.
But his innings was shrouded in controversy when he had a let-off on 30 after he edged Ishant Sharma to wicketkeeper Mahendra Dhoni, but was given not out by umpire Steve Bucknor despite television replays showing otherwise.
Symonds confirmed after close of play he should have been out 107 runs short of his stumps score.
"I was very lucky. I was out when I was 30, given not out. That's cricket though. I can sit here and tell you about my bad decisions as well, but I won't," he told a press conference.
"That's the game. It's just one of those things."
Asked if his let-off will prove crucial to the outcome of the Test, Symonds said, "Possibly. I don't really care, mate. It's happened and there's nothing you can do about it."
Symonds said there was no need to ensure every decision was adjudicated by a television replay to avoid human error.
"There's ways to improve it, but let's not push and prod it too much. It's a good game, it's a great game," he said.
"People make mistakes. Players (make) mistakes every day. Umpires make mistakes, too. It's how you handle them and how you keep going after those mistakes are made."
Hogg agreed, saying, "You've got to keep the human element in there. It creates a different feel."
Symonds, looking increasingly assured batting at No.6 in the Australian lineup since his 156 against England in Melbourne a year ago, has faced 173 balls and hit 17 fours and two sixes.
"I haven't had time to reflect. The innings won't mean much to me until the end of the game," he said.
"It's always a great feeling to score a hundred. It's a feeling of satisfaction.
"It'll mean more to me if we can have a good result in the Test and I can look back and I've contributed to a win."
Symonds said Australia's precarious position when he came into bat offered a perfect opportunity to create something special.
"Australian teams have always prided themselves to fight back and show a bit of mental toughness and heart and this team is no different," he said.
"When we lose wickets it's an opportunity for Brad and myself to do something a bit special. Today we had a decent day. "Four hundred runs will be a very healthy first innings score.
"I suppose it puts us in a position where we hope we wouldn't lose the game from there.
"If we bowl well and bat well again then we can put ourselves in a very good position to win the game."
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}