Hayden derives pleasure from Symonds' maiden century

MELBOURNE, Dec 27 (Reuters) Australian opener Matthew Hayden said witnessing team mate Andrew Symonds score his maiden test century against England felt more satisfying than the completion of his own hundred today.

Both players registered big tons during a 279-run partnership that helped Australia recover from 84 for five to finish the second day of the fourth Ashes test in a commanding position.

Hayden made 153 and Symonds 154 not out to steer Australia to 372-7 at stumps, leading by 213 with three first innings wickets in hand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

''I think we needed to build a big partnership. We were one wicket away from going into perhaps a very moderate lead so it was very important for the team,'' Hayden told a news conference.

''We just added to the partnership brick-by-brick and at the end of the day the results speak for themselves.'' Hayden was relatively subdued when he brought up his 27th test hundred to join Allan Border in seventh place on the all-time list of most prolific centurions, but could not contain himself when Symonds smashed Paul Collingwood for six to chalk up a first test century. ''I really enjoyed Andrew's achievement. A first test match hundred is a very special moment and being a part of it was one of the highlights of my test career,'' Hayden said.

''I always enjoy my test match hundreds but I must admit today I was really just interested in making sure Symmo was on his way.

''When he got his hundred that was the celebration I wanted to have for him, when I got my 150 that was for me.'' SURPRISE RECALL Symonds, whose test career looked over when he was dropped after failing in South Africa earlier this year, only earned a recall when first-choice all-rounder Shane Watson injured his hamstring before the series then middle-order batsman Damien Martyn suddenly retired after the second test win in Adelaide.

The big-hitting Symonds made 26 and two in the third test in Perth but took two wickets with the ball to keep his place for Melbourne.

''I really enjoyed it, it was very emotional for me,'' Symonds said.

'I didn't think I'd be anywhere near playing in the series but this has been an amazing test.

''Seeing Shane Warne get his 700th (test) wicket then scoring a hundred with one of my best mates of all time.'' Symonds, 31, began cautiously, playing and missing several times before finally getting off the mark, but rapidly grew in confidence.

He reached his 50 after lunch off 79 balls with a single off Sajid Mamood then brought up his maiden test hundred after six when he lifted Collingwood over the boundary rope.

''I was very nervous when I first went out there,'' Symonds said.

''I was seeing them well out of the hand but I didn't know where the first run was coming from.

''I knew I hit it well but I didn't know it was six until the umpire signalled it.'' Their 279-run stand was the biggest partnership in 38 years at the MCG and the biggest sixth wicket stand since Don Bradman and Jack Fingleton put on 346 in 1936.

REUTERS DH KN1614