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Andrew Symonds, who died on Saturday night time in a automotive crash aged 46, was immediately recognisable on the cricket subject with a mop of dreadlocks poking out from his dishevelled inexperienced cap and lips gleaming with white zinc cream. A hulking presence at 6ft 2in (1.87m) with a smile as broad as his shoulders, he was a supremely proficient all-rounder equally at house bowling spin or energetic medium-pace.
Regardless of his measurement, Symonds was a lithe and athletic presence on the bottom, with secure bucket-like palms and a laser throw that noticed him rated one of many recreation’s biggest fielders.
However he was at his most harmful with a bat in his palms.
Symonds — nicknamed “Roy” — performed 26 Assessments and 198 50-over video games for Australia in a world profession spanning greater than a decade, from 1998 till 2009.
A pivotal member of Australia’s 2003 and 2007 ODI World Cup-winning sides, Symonds took 133 wickets and scored 5,088 runs at a mean of 39.75 in that format.
He handed three figures six instances within the 50-over recreation and fifty on 30 extra events, with a prime rating of 156 in opposition to New Zealand in 2005.
In Assessments, principally batting at quantity six, he scored 1,462 runs at a wholesome common of 40.61, with two a whole lot and 10 fifties.
Symonds was used solely as an occasional bowler within the five-day recreation, taking simply 24 wickets.
His finest innings of 162 not out got here in opposition to India within the Sydney New 12 months Take a look at of 2008 — but it surely was overshadowed by the “Monkeygate” scandal that erupted later in that match.
Symonds accused spinner Harbhajan Singh of calling him a “monkey” throughout an ill-tempered third day.
Singh, who denied any wrongdoing, was suspended for 3 matches, however the ban was overturned when India threatened to stop the tour, sending India-Australia cricket relations hit a low level.
Coming of age
Symonds was born in Birmingham, England, on June 9, 1975, together with his mother and father Ken and Barbara adopting him when he was 15 months outdated.
They moved to Australia quickly after, settling down within the rural northern Queensland city of Charters Towers.
Beloved by teammates, he was dubbed “Leroy” by an academy coach within the early Nineteen Nineties who thought he seemed like Queensland basketball participant Leroy Loggins.
It obtained shortened to “Roy” and he was affectionately recognized by the sobriquet for the remainder of his life.
In 1995, he turned down a call-up from his nation of delivery to play for England A, and three years later made his one-day worldwide debut for Australia in opposition to Pakistan.
It was in opposition to the identical opponents within the opening match of the 2003 World Cup that Symonds got here of age.
A shock choice on the behest of Ricky Ponting, Symonds rewarded his captain’s religion together with his first worldwide century.
The match-winning 143 was made in Johannesburg in opposition to an assault boasting all-time greats Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, Waqar Younis and Shahid Afridi. It cemented Symonds’ place within the aspect.
Symonds preferred life’s easy pleasure and away from the sector was by no means happier than with a beer or a fishing rod in hand, although he had issues with alcohol on multiple event.
In 2005, he arrived for an ODI in opposition to Bangladesh in England nonetheless drunk from the night time earlier than.
In June 2009, Symonds was despatched house from the World Twenty20 in England because of “an alcohol-related incident” and he was stripped of his Cricket Australia contract.
After stints within the Indian Premier League with Deccan Chargers and Mumbai Indians, Symonds retired in 2011 to change into a well-recognized voice within the commentary field.
He additionally performed within the English County Championship for Gloucestershire, Kent and Surrey.
Promoted
Symonds leaves a spouse, Laura, and two younger youngsters, Chloe and Billy.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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