Gautam Gambhir's pre-match disregard of Peter Siddle's claims as a complete pace bowler backfired in a big way as the stout-hearted Victorian had the last laugh on the combative Indian opener before helping put Australia in an imposing position after day three of the fourth Test at Adelaide Oval.
On an easy-paced track best described as a batsman's paradise, Siddle ripped the heart out of the Indian innings, dismissing acting captain Virender Sehwag late on day two and then Sachin Tendulkar and Gambhir in consecutive overs in the first hour of play on Thursday en route to a superb five-wicket haul.
The Aussie speedster got particular pleasure from knocking over Gambhir, who prior to the match questioned Siddle's ability to succeed on batsman-friendly surfaces, believing that suitable conditions have helped him take wickets this summer.
The ball that sent Gambhir back to the pavilion was a wonderful sharp lifter on an apparently lifeless deck, which caught the edge of the bat and lobbed to Mike Hussey at gully.
"Gambhir thought I had the luck of the green wickets," said Siddle who collected 5-49.
"There wasn't much bounce in this wicket today and it seemed to get him out."
"It was a nice little reward on a wicket that is pretty hard to bowl on."
Fiercely patriotic Siddle, who has the Southern Cross tattooed across his back, made it an Australia Day to remember with his deserved bag of five, during which he was on a hat-trick at one stage.
It was the first time he'd snared a five-for since claiming 6-54 in the first Test of last summer's Ashes at the Gabba.
On that occasion, Siddle snared a hat-trick - on his 26th birthday. Clearly he's a man who loves the big occasion and it was no different on the national holiday.
"That's what I play the game for," Siddle said. "To be able to go out there this morning with the national anthem (playing) and the baggy green on, that's something we all dream of."
"It was a brilliant crowd here for Australia Day - it always has been in the past for the one-dayers or Test matches."
"To be part of it on Australia Day with the big crowd on the hill cheering (and) chanting, it was a great day."
Although this was his first big bag of wickets for the season, Siddle has been a model of constistency with 31 scalps across the New Zealand and India series.
He has yet to go wicketless in any innings and has picked up seven three-wicket hauls this summer. Today was the big one he'd been patiently waiting for.
"The hard work that I've put in over the last six, seven months has all come together this summer," Siddle said.
"The work I've put in personally on the fitness side of things, (my) strength and the work with Billy (bowling coach Craig McDermott) to get where I am is paying off."
"Billy kept saying to me that the haul was around the corner, around the corner."
"He's been saying it for a few matches now, but to finally get it here is very pleasing."
Siddle said the decision to not enforce the follow-on, after India were knocked over for 272 in response to Australia's 7-604 declared, was an easy one.
"The situation of the game and how much time was left (meant) there wasn't too much need to talk about