Andrew Symonds: Ferocious talent faces demons

Australia Cricket / Frank Gregan / 24 November 2008 / 1

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An alcohol-fuelled altercation in a Brisbane hotel is the latest in a long line of off-field mishaps for Andrew Symonds but, while his team-mates may indulge his rabble-rousing, the gifted all-rounder must focus on what he does best before it's too late, says Frank Gregan.

It was a normal weekend in the cricketing world. England lost, Australia won and Andrew Symonds managed to drop himself in the brown gooey stuff again! Symonds had returned to the test side for the 149 run win against New Zealand following a ban he received for going fishing and subsequently missing a team meeting before the ODI series against Bangladesh. He was involved in "an incident' in a Brisbane hotel on
Sunday night whilst out drinking with members of the defeated Australian Rugby League squad.

Symonds missed out on the tour of India but was re-called to play in the first test against the Kiwis and retained his place in the squad for the second test at the expense of Shane Watson. The dropping of Watson was controversial and many believed that Symonds may have been the one to make way for another fast bowler, Peter Siddle. The "Darwin Incident" was just the latest in a long list of disciplinary mishaps that the Queenslander had been involved in and having made a very mediocre return in the first test he looked the easy option for the chop.

Trouble follows Symonds to each and every corner of the globe and he has broken more curfews than the French Resistance! He is a great talent but seems to have little time for management and thinks that solid game preparation involves the sinking of ten beers instead of twenty! The Aussies are a highly motivated and professional side; arguably the best in the world and it is easy to imagine that Symond's conduct would be frowned upon by his peers.

But it isn't. He is a highly charismatic character and his laid back nature is accepted by his team mates. "That's why we love him," said Michael Clarke who was the skipper when Symonds was sent home from Darwin. It's why we want him to be part of the squad because he is such a great guy."

There is no denying his ferocious talent and also no getting away from the fact that once a reputation as a hell raiser has been gained there will always be some punchy numpty out there wanting to take a pop after a beer or ten. There is no sure fire way to avoid such a confrontation, it can happen at a taxi rank or a restaurant but the chances of it happening can be reduced by careful selection of recreational venues.

The Normandy Hotel in Red Hill, Brisbane is not a place renowned for its social ambience and although there was a partitioned area in which Symonds and his friends from the Australian Rugby League team were drinking, the public still had access. Symonds was asked to pose for a photo and denied the request. It is a simple equation, alcohol + rejection + sporting celebrity = "incident."

It appears that Symonds did nothing wrong. It is his right to choose not to pose for the photograph and he cannot be blamed for the fan's reaction. Symonds stayed in the hotel and carried on drinking and the offending patron was ejected. It is only a story because it has happened to Andrew Symonds, just another episode in his troubled career off the pitch.

Like so many sporting greats, Symonds is fighting his own demons and is currently receiving treatment for a stress related illness. This incident will not help his cause but at thirty-three years of age he doesn't have a lot of time left at the highest level. If he isn't going to waste that time he needs to quash those demons and focus on what he does best, cricket not booze!

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Anita Gudruht | 07 December 2008

I have put forward the view in other blogs that Andrew Symonds actually chucks when he is bowling off-spin, and some of his performances have been diabolical. This view has not been easily accepted, especially in Australia. His action is different to Murali's, but I am surprised he has not been reported.
Anyone else have any views on this?