Andrew Symonds and Matthew Hayden both smashed centuries and shared a 279-run partnership to put Australia in complete control of the fourth Ashes test against England yesterday.

Symonds cracked an unbeaten 154 while Hayden belted 153 as Australia recovered from the loss of three early wickets to reach 372 for seven by stumps on the second day, leading by 213 after England were dismissed for just 159 on Tuesday.

England had briefly threatened to stage a fightback when they ripped through Australia's middle-order in the first hour of play but Hayden and Symonds tipped the balance back Australia's way with the biggest partnership in 38 years at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The pair came together before lunch with Australia seemingly in a spot of bother at 84-5 and flayed England's bowlers for the best part of five hours before Hayden was dismissed shortly before the close.

"Symmo's innings was remarkable," Hayden said in a televised interview at the close of play. "When he really did decide to go after it he was totally unstoppable.

"I was just so proud of him, first test match 100 is just so special. Everyone's real excited for him."

Australia also lost Adam Gilchrist for one just before the close leaving home town hero Shane Warne unbeaten on four with the home team in a commanding position after winning the first three tests to regain the Ashes they lost last year.

England made a great start to the day when they dismissed Ricky Ponting for seven, Mike Hussey for six and Michael Clarke but could not break the Symonds-Hayden partnership quickly enough. Ponting skied a catch off Andrew Flintoff to Alastair Cook at mid-wicket when he mis-timed a pull shot from outside off stump, while Hussey experienced his first failure of the series when he missed a straight delivery from Matthew Hoggard that crashed into his stumps.

Clarke also had a rare failure after making hundreds in the past two tests when he edged express paceman Steve Harmison to wicketkeeper Chris Read, who had taken four catches in the innings after being called in to replace Geraint Jones.

Hayden had been given the benefit of the doubt on two very confident lbw appeals on the first day but did not give the visitors any chances yesterday, reaching his 27th test hundred off 170 balls in 276 minutes with a six then a boundary off left-arm spinner Monty Panesar.

Symonds, 31, who was only called into the team after Damien Martyn suddenly announced his retirement before the third test, was initially cautious but grew in confidence in front of a massive crowd of 75,000 people.

The dreadlocked Symonds reached his fifty off 79 balls with a single off Sajid Mamood then brought up his maiden test hundred with a six off Paul Collingwood. Hayden struck 13 boundaries and two sixes in his six-hour, 265-ball innings before nicking Mahmood behind to Read while Gilchrist was caught by Collingwood at second slip off the same bowler.

(China Daily December 28, 2006)