It was a Sunday morning that plunged the cricketing world into mourning and the news from Down Under was grim. Former Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds died of fatal injuries in a car accident near Townsville, Queensland on Saturday night. Symonds, just 46, has shocked the Australian sporting world, which is yet to come with the first demise of Rodney Marsh and Shane Warne.
With an impressive statistic and larger-than-life outlook, Symonds was much more than numbers in statistical books. He was an impact-player through his massive shots, power fielding and more than easy bowling, be it off-spin or medium pace. The two-time World Cup winner (2003 and 2007) had limited-overs games and dreadlocks on his face, zinc cream and oddly acrimonious words to rivals, he always drew in the cameras.
After playing 26 Tests and 14 T20Is, the ‘Symonds Effect’ was felt more in his 198 ODIs, with a strike-rate of 92.44 and 5,088 runs at an average of 39.75. In addition, he also took 133 wickets and at one point was indispensable to the Australian team in yellow. Later when his career declined, he found a competitor for his spot in Shane Watson.
amateur spirit
In an increasingly professional sports arena, Symonds had an amateurish spirit. He prioritized his fishing and hiking trips, which at times affected his availability to play for his country. The odd team meeting was abandoned and paid the price. Years later he sought companionship with alcohol on nights filled with self-pity and anger, a result of the scar he inflicted on him from the Monkeygate brawl during the Sydney Test against India in 2008.
The ludicrous episode in which he accused Harbhajan Singh of using the casteist word ‘monkey’ against him turned into a rift between the cricket boards of India and Australia. An investigation proved inconclusive, with Harbhajan asserting his innocence and taking refuge in Hindi slang imitating the word monkey. Symonds felt disheartened by Cricket Australia and even though a later photo-opportunity emerged of a reconciliation with her Mumbai Indians teammate Harbhajan, the Aussie was never the same force of nature she was in her prime. Symonds last played for Australia in 2009, but with his fanfare he pulled in crowds, inspired children to imitate his swag and was always an electric personality. He leaves behind memories of a brilliant player and an equally fragile man, and cricket has lost a unique character in this time of stylized beards, dull words and jealousy.