In one of my earlier articles on The Roar regarding the future of the Australian cricket team, I said this on Andrew Symonds: “Andrew Symonds needs to have a good look at himself, and focus totally on his batting,not get himself involved in matters off the field …”
Well, after what happened today, when Andrew Symond was sent home by the Australian cricket team’s leadership group, it’s pretty clear to me and to other followers of Australian cricket, that Andrew Symonds is finished in the international scene, at least for now.
While it might have been only a meaningless one-day series against Bangladesh, for the Australian selectors however, it takes on a much greater meaning.
With the tour of India little more than a month away, and a tough twin series against New Zealand & South Africa before the biggest tour of them all – England 2009 – the selectors are taking no chances and want to use the Bangladesh series as a guide to not just the tour of India, but also the defence of the Ashes in England next year which is the main focus of the Australians.
However Andrew Symonds wants no part of it and prefer to go fishing rather than be a part of the build up to the 2009 Ashes series.
Which leaves one question to be asked: does Andrew Symonds really want to be remembered as a great all-rounder; or one of the great disappointments who had a lot of potential, but somehow didn’t deliver?
It’s up to you, Andrew.
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August 31st 2008 @ 10:31am
sheek said | August 31st 2008 @ 10:31am | Report comment
Jason,
Roy Symonds seems to be one of those cranky old guys lacking tolerance in a team of younger players. It’s also a sign he should consider retiring, before he’s pushed. Maybe his enthusiasm is waning.
Symonds started late, making his test debut at 29. He’s 33 now, still has 2-3 good years left in him, if he so desires. But maybe that’s the problem, a waning desire to compete at the top. Fishing looks good!
August 31st 2008 @ 11:51am
skull said | August 31st 2008 @ 11:51am | Report comment
I think that Andrew now has his fat IPL contract so doesnt really care anymore. I would think that international retirement is now on the cards for Simmo. After all why flog yourself training and touring all year round when you can pick up a years salary in 6 weeks. You can then devote the rest of your time for fishing.
August 31st 2008 @ 12:28pm
Muralidaran Ramesh Somasunderam said | August 31st 2008 @ 12:28pm | Report comment
I believe that Andrew Symonds has an identity problem, because he is a West Indian, who was born in Birmingham, England and migrated with his family to Australia early in his life.
The problem with having this identity crisis does make Symonds to behave more “Australian” than most mainstreams Australians, especially with his indiscipline larrikin approach, and his brash attitude to other cultures. This is why he had problems in India, not because he had problems with certain players in the Indian national team, which most international players have with opposition players on a regular basis, due to the competitive nature of professional sport, which does include cricket.
I am not character slanting Andrew Symonds, but after noticing him for a while, I have come to this view or opinion.
August 31st 2008 @ 4:02pm
Spiro Zavos said | August 31st 2008 @ 4:02pm | Report comment
Andrew Symonds is promoted beyond his abilities as a Test cricketer. I think this batting and a bit of bowling all-rounder role can be filled better by David Hussey. And if Symonds is not careful he’ll pose his ODI place, too, to Cameron White whose bowling seems to have improved a bit. That leaves Twenty/20 cricket, mainly in India, for him to finish off his career.
August 31st 2008 @ 5:16pm
Westy said | August 31st 2008 @ 5:16pm | Report comment
Spiro …..in a dogfight in a one day cricket game or a cricket test there is not a current player I would prefer to Symonds.
I have watched Cameron White and saw him spin the ball…..once…………he is pushed far beyond his abilities and like Hussey is part of a concerted Victorian push to get someone in the national starting team. White is not in the same class as Symonds.
Like it or not Symonds is simply inspiring in the field and oddly enough has taken most of his wickets and runs when we are battling. In the field he is worth runs and in the modern game has been devastating at limiting runs, getting runouts and putting fieldsman under pressure.
His behaviour deserves disciplinary measures but never question his fighting abilities. he is the best athlete in Australian cricket.White is a very good middle order batsman who can bowl limited leg spin. Hussey is better
August 31st 2008 @ 5:47pm
sheek said | August 31st 2008 @ 5:47pm | Report comment
Spiro,
Symonds may have started out promoted beyond his abilities as a test cricketer. But he eventually rose to the occasion.
A test batting average of nearly 45 with 2 centuries & 9 half-centuries in 34 innings is nothing to sneer at. Also, virtually a wicket per test (23 in 22) at just over 36 is also very handy.
I note that Symonds’ batting average is superior to Ian Chappell’s, a supposedly much better batsman. While handy medium pacer Doug Walters only managed 49 wickets in his 74 tests.
Stats are deceiving, & both Chappell & Walters probably played in a stronger international era. Nevertheless, the point is, Symonds’ stats are not to sneer at.
August 31st 2008 @ 11:51pm
Mick Gold Coast QLD said | August 31st 2008 @ 11:51pm | Report comment
Cricket Australia: “Andrew, we have a “Couple of Strikes and Your Out – this is Post Pre-school Potty Training Employment” policy. Let us have the forwarding address for your copy of the terminated contract, close the door as you leave – and mind the long queue of capable and keen young cricketers just outside there, who are prepared to sign, and observe, the conditions of contract that accompany the fame and extraordinary fortune awaiting them as Australian cricketers. You have made your decision and we have made ours.”
I’d like to see that!
And a respectful note on the comparative averages – as good a cricketer as he is Andrew Symonds is a dispensable part of a very talented team whereas Ian Chappell strode as a colossus through his time, an outstanding competitor, an unrelenting opponent, a tough minded and disciplined individual, and a demanding leader. Like Douggie, he was a central, vital part of the success of the players around him.
All the well rewarded players since Chappelli are indebted to him more than any other for the grand employment conditions they enjoy.
September 1st 2008 @ 10:35pm
Ottayan said | September 1st 2008 @ 10:35pm | Report comment
Why is everybody over reacting. He will be back in business.
September 3rd 2008 @ 10:25pm
Tim said | September 3rd 2008 @ 10:25pm | Report comment
I disagree with what Symonds did but I think this letter pushed the boundary a bit too far with the statement “….rather than be a part of the build up to the 2009 Ashes series.”
Complete overkill
September 4th 2008 @ 2:10am
jacki said | September 4th 2008 @ 2:10am | Report comment
For gawds sake! All the bloke did was go fishing with a mate. His team management KNEW weeks in advance that’s what he was doing that day, that’s why they only scheduled a voluntary training session. Then they suddenly decided to call a compulsory team meeting when he was ALREADY OUT FISHING. Use your brain people. The punishment was then wildly severe and calculated to get maximum public humiliation. Why?? They even had him ESCORTED out of the city by ACB officials!! WHY???? Is that even legal? But why do that anyway???? And then you have senior officials and Pup/Watson acting highly unprofessional by running off at the mouth to the media trashing Roy six ways from Sunday. WTF? This isnt about money, or Roy being ‘selfish’ or “a bad boy”, or “arrogant” or “selfish”. That’s all ACB and media spin. This is about some very wierd hidden agendas and Roy ending up feeling betrayed and isolated. Ask yourself, what is REALLY GOING ON HERE? Does anything about Darwin really make sense???? (NO) Why did the ACB not only pull one of Roy’s regular newspaper columns earlier this year, but then ban him from writing any more? They’ve gagged Roy several times in the past few months. He even had a dig at them about it at the Alan Border medal. What’s with the censorship???
Of course Roy wanted/wants to be a part of the upcoming tours. He has them excitedly posted into his online diary ready to post up accounts while he was on tour. The bloke has a reputation for loving cricket and especially loving being on the Aussie team. If this has changed, it would take a hell of a lot for that to happen. My question is – WHAT did it take? Please don’t just blindly join the howling pitchfork-wielding mob. Just think about all this a bit.