At stumps, Australia was an extraordinary 7/376, surpassing their first innings total of 344 from the Boxing Day Test. Symonds unbeaten on 137 and Brett Lee not out 31.

RP Singh took four wickets to have Australia in deep trouble at 6/134 before Hogg and Symonds put on a 173 run partnership for the seventh wicket to take the home side to 7/307 before Hogg was out for 79.

Before today, Hogg's highest test score was 34 and he deserved a century but played a cut shot to a ball from Kumble which bounced more than he expected and he edged to Dravid at first slip.

Symonds and Hogg, who at times lived dangerously, went for their shots despite the precarious position their country was in when they came together.

Hogg brought up his first test half century shortly after tea and had a huge grin on his face. He didn't raise his bat to the crowd at first and may have taken advice from Symonds on what to do when he shook hands mid pitch.

Symonds also brought up his 50 a short time later, but had appeared lucky to retain his wicket before the tea break when he appeared to edge a delivery from Ishant Sharma to the keeper.

Ishant may face a charge of dissent are making his disappointment clear to umpire Steve Bucknor.

Perhaps there was some pent up frustration from Ishant after he misjudged a regulation outfield catch when Hogg was on 15.

He will also have to explain some unusual behaviour to his teammates.

In the closing minutes of the game, Ishant got to the bowling crease but didn't let go of the ball, three times in a row in one over.

The Aussies were 2/95 at lunch but then lost star batsmen, Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke and Adam Gilchrist in quick succession after lunch.

Australia lost 4/15 inside six overs to be in deep trouble at 6/134 with more than a session to play. Australia's chances of building a respectable total lay in the hands of Symonds and Hogg.

Ponting won the toss and elected to bat under sunny skies but on a wicket which threatend to offer something to the bowlers early.

That proved to be the case with both openers on their way inside the first hour.

Ponting is fast becoming Harbhajan's Singh's bunny after he was out again to him, albeit from a dubious lbw decision, for 55. It's the seventh in eight tests Ponting's tormentor has captured his wicket.

Anil Kumble has also dismissed the Australian captain seven times.

Ponting stood his ground for a few seconds after being given out lbw, he appeared to get a decent knick onto his pads but there might have been some natural justice in the decision.

He'd lived a charmed life on his way to a Test half century.

First, Ponting survived an enormous appeal for caught behind off Ganguly, when he was on 17 runs. Channel 9's replay proved inconclusive as there was no deviation of the ball's flight, but there was clearly a noise as the ball passed the edge of Ponting's bat.

There were several players in close at the time and to a man they screamed loudly. Umpire Mark Benson clearly didn't hear the snick and gave it not out.

Ponting skied one to deep midwicket and although there was a lot of ground to make to get to the catch, Raul Dravid, probably should have made a better fist of it than he did.

India might have had the Australian captain stumped for 31, after he was beaten in flight by Harbhajan Singh. Dohni was deceived by the bounce, the ball clipping his gloves on the way to byes.

Michael Hussey was tempted to drive at one outside off stump by RP Singh, he didn't really thrash at it and the ball just carried to Sachin Tendulkar at first slip. Hussey out for 41.

Michael Clarke didn't offer a shot and was out plumb lbw off the bowling off Harbhajan Singh for one.

The scene was set for Adam Gilchrist to play a match saving innings but it didn't happen when he too edged to Tendulkar at first slip off the bowling of RP Singh.

India made a great start to the Test, with RP Singh capturing the wickets of Phil Jacques and Matthew Hayden after nine overs.

Hayden hit a cracking drive for four runs and looked like picking up where he left off in Melbourne. RP Singh was unfazed and enticed Hayden to drive again outside off stump. It paid dividends, with Hayden edging to first slip where Tendulkar took a sharp chance.

The big Queenslander out for 13 and Australia 2/27.

Phil Jacques was the first man out, for a duck, trying to lift a delivery from RP Singh over the slips and down to third man. He was caught by wicket-keeper, Dohni over his head.

Australia was 1/0, when Ricky Ponting came to the crease to huge applause.

Despite India removing both openers in the first hour, the home side still put almost 100 runs on the board in the first session, Australia 2/95 at lunch. Michael Hussey was not out 37 and Ponting unbeaten on 36, the pair putting on 68.

India went into the match having made one change to the side heavily beaten in the first Test in Melbourne, with veteran speedster Zaheer Khan out with a reoccurance of a heel injury.

Lanky youngster Ishant Sharma came into the side and immeidately showed he some zip, relishing some early life the SCG pitch.

Australia named an unchanged side with speedster Shaun Tait again left out and spinner Brad Hogg retained alongside pacemen Brett Lee, Stuart Clark and Mitchell Johnson.

A win this week would give Ponting's side 16 consecutive Test victories, equalling the world record of Steve Waugh's Australian side in 1999 to 2001.

Ponting said he had mentioned the world record winning streak to his players at a team meeting but would prefer it was pushed to the background.

"The only thing wrong with it is I think it just takes your focus away from what you have to do," he said.

"I just think it can cloud your thinking a little bit."

Australia team
PA Jaques, ML Hayden, RT Ponting, MEK Hussey, MJ Clarke, A Symonds, AC Gilchrist, GB Hogg, B Lee, MG Johnson, SR Clark

India team
W Jaffer, R Dravid, VVS Laxman, SR Tendulkar, SC Ganguly, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni, A Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, RP Singh, I Sharma

Courtesy - NineMSN