However, his approach started to change as the innings progressed, his second 50 arriving off 39 balls and including nine fours, and his 150 coming just 16 balls later, following another two fours, and six mighty sixes.
At the time, Symonds' 156 was the third highest score in Australian one-day history and the highest in matches between the transtasman rivals. It was surpassed by Matthew Hayden's 181 not out two years later.
He shared a 220-run stand with Michael Clarke, who compiled an unbeaten 82, which was Australia's fifth highest for any wicket against all countries and the best for any wicket in matches involving New Zealand.
Symonds blasted eight sixes to all parts of the ground and 12 fours in his 127-ball, 149-minute stay.
He scored his last 56 runs off just 18 balls, as the tourists pummelled 65 off the last four overs of the innings.
Symonds hit the first two balls of the 47th over bowled by Kyle Mills for six and cleared the ropes with the first three balls of the 48th bowled by Cairns - an over that cost 25.
But his innings was partially eclipsed by a dramatic finish to the match. The Black Caps fell just two runs short of chasing down the massive total thanks to some late hitting from Brendon McCullum. The losing total was at the time New Zealand's highest one-day score against Australia and their highest chasing total against any nation.
