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Andrew Symonds with coach Tim Nielsen, who was part of the four-man group which decided to send the all-rounder packing PIC/AFP |
Having been convinced by Cricket Australia (CA) to down grade the charge against Harbhajan from racial to verbal abuse, Symonds was mortified when a clerical error allowed the prickly Indian off-spinner to escape major punishment. Symonds felt he had been the victim of a CA ploy to placate the Indian Board in the interest of future financial benefits.
Resentment
Ever since, Symonds has harboured a growing resentment towards CA and he has resisted all attempts by the administration to patch up the rocky relationship. However, there were signs prior to the Adelaide court case that the Harbhajan incident was taking a toll on Symonds. More aggression in his approach to people and a heightened suspicion of officialdom were sure signs his explosive temperament was running off a short fuse.
His increasingly erratic behaviour has been a by-product of the resentment towards CA and eventually resulted in the team hierarchy banishing him from Darwin for the seemingly minor charge of missing a meeting.
The fact that one of his greatest supporters in Ricky Ponting was involved in the decision to send him home from Darwin suggests this is a determined attempt to jolt him out of his militant mindset. Ponting was the sole reason Symonds was selected for the 2003 World Cup, a significant watershed in the aggressive all-rounder's international career. Symonds' resounding success in that tournament cemented his one-day international reputation and eventually led to his transformation as a Test player and spring boarded him to a lucrative IPL contract.
When the IPL and Australian schedules clashed, Symonds was categorical about not touring Pakistan and this created an impression he might favour a reduced output for his country in favour of a full commitment to his franchise.
If that was Symonds' intention, a short statement from IPL commissioner Lalit Modi saying; "I would advise him to stay on with his country," because, "we don't need a whole bunch of retired cricketers," might be the catalyst for a major re-think.
Strong support
Despite being banished from Darwin by the hierarchy of the Australian team, Symonds will be buoyed by the strong messages of support he's had from his fellow players. Ponting's vote to punish Symonds shouldn't be seen as a major change of heart by the captain but more a strong leader attempting to convince a valued player he needs to concentrate on being a full-time cricketer rather than a part-timer who dabbles in fishing.
