Andrew Symonds’ needs as a rehab patient have finally overtaken his commercial value as an international cricketer.

The future of 33-year-old allrounder Symonds looks tenuous after Cricket Australia made him ineligible for the tour of South Africa so he can pursue an intensified course of counselling.

Symonds has lurched from one misadventure to the other since he was left disillusioned by the fall-out from the Harbhajan Singh racism hearings last summer, his problems seemingly enhanced by CA’s desperate desire to have him playing as much cricket as possible.

But finally on Tuesday the board acknowledged that Symonds’ issues, including the alcohol problems that were most recently demonstrated during a slurring interview that featured the “lump of s—” jibe at Brendon McCullum, had to be addressed fully before he could go any further as a sportsman.

Though he was at pains to say Symonds was “making good progress”, CA chief executive James Sutherland said he would have to satisfy stricter rehab criteria before again being available for selection.

Among the key stipulations is that Symonds’ counselling must take priority over any cricket commitments with CA or Queensland Cricket, possibly limiting his chances to regather form in time to be considered for subsequent tours in April and beyond.

Captain Ricky Ponting was known to be very keen to have Symonds back in his side after Test and one-day series losses to South Africa on home soil this summer.

However Sutherland said the CA board took into account a recommendation from management that Symonds be ruled out of the South African tour.

“In arriving at that decision, the board has taken on advice received from a number of people who are working very closely with Andrew,” he said.

“We see that this period back in Australia will provide him with an opportunity to have some more intense counselling and to work through some of his issues and ensure he has the right platform to come back to international cricket in a manner that we wants to.

“We acknowledge there have been some setbacks in recent times, but overall the advice that we are getting from those working with Andrew is that he is making good progress.”

Sutherland spoke to Symonds, Ponting and Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke before making the decision public.

“It’s a tough stance, but it’s an appropriate stance in the circumstances,” said Sutherland.

“It can be looked at as a sanction, but I would prefer to look at this as a decision in the best interests of Andrew Symonds as well.

“He is making good progress, but at the same time will benefit from some concentrated counselling over this period before he goes on tour again with the Australian team, selectors’ opinions permitting.”

Symonds attended the funeral of a close friend on Tuesday, and his management released a statement saying that if he chose to pass comment on the sanction it would be on Thursday.

Through it all, Symonds has retained his CA contract, but it will be a long road back.

© AAP 2012

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