Day 1 of the second Test between India and Australia at the SCG was a controvercial one. And fortunes
shifting gears every now and then. India was all over Australia by having them gasping for breath at 134/6. Except for Ponting and Hussey, all the others had failed miserably. Ponting with a captain''s knock of 55 and Hussey with 41 carried Australian hopes on their shoulders. R P Singh did most of the damage to the Aussies. At 134/6, Andrew Symonds and Bradd Hogg came together.
From almost hopless score of 134, they both started their innings. Their first immidiate task was to keep their wickets. Runs were not their first priority. Driving, cutting and pulling the better of the two - Symonds - started his recovery epic knock. Hogg proved to be a thron in the flesh for the Indians. He unexpectedly gave Symonds a good support. From 134/6 by the 35th over Australia seemed to be alomost donw and out and their record winning streak looking in great danger. Symonds was the only recognized batsman remaining. So, of course, Indians targetted Hogg for his
wicket. Once that was achieved, the tail would get exposed and the Indians would have made short work of the Aussies. By the time the 7th wicket fell in the form of Hogg, Australia were out of woods at 307/7. The partnership for the 7th wicket was 173. But no credit for this.
Symonds made self confession that he did not walk. So did Ponting. Both were out on personal scores of 30 and 17 respectively. Symonds himself said, "I was lucky not to be given out on 30, but that''s how the game goes." Sharma was the unlukcy bowler. Ponting too got a reprive when on 17. Ganguly this time. Both the times Dhoni took good catches. But no nod from the umpires, which matter. But what matters more is that both Symonds and Ponting played foul with the game of cricket.
Had there been Gilchrist there, he would have ''walked''; history at least says so. Bucknor
favoured Symonds. Benson favoured Ponting. And Benson favoured India. When Ponting was not out on 55, he was given. There was an inside edge on to his pads, which might have slipped out of his eyes. Maybe Benson might have made amends to his earlier decision. Anyways, Australia ended their first day on a comfortable 376/7. Lee then joined Symonds after the departure of Hogg. He too contributed his bit to the total and remained not out.