Drink sinks Symonds
5 Jun 2009
Andrew Symonds’ international career could be over after yet another alcohol-related incident that has seen him expelled from Australia’s World T20 squad.
James Sutherland, the chief executive of Cricket Australia, said that Symonds had been removed from the 15-man squad for a series of misdemeanours.
Sutherland was called by a senior member of the Australia management team to tell him that Symonds had been drinking heavily at a sports bar in London on Wednesday morning to watch the State of Origin rugby league match between Queensland and New South Wales.
Symonds, who has admitted that he has a drink problem, was on a restricted code of conduct after a string of alcohol-related offences. A contract offer from Cricket Australia is now likely to be withdrawn.
‘In isolation, the breaches are not serious, but they are enough for it to be the final straw,’ Sutherland said. ‘I am disappointed in Andrew, but I am also disappointed for him after all the work he has done with Australian cricket’s support in the last year.’
Cameron White has replaced Symonds in the squad.
27 Comments
5 Jun 2009, 12:18 pm
Die Bruinmens Dragons!
5 Jun 2009, 12:40 pm
Sad to see him go in this fashion.
Hope he gets it sorted.
5 Jun 2009, 13:01 pm
It is about time that Australian Sports start taking better care of their more historically native sports players. This is not the first substance abuse problem to hit this nation. Wendell and Walker to name a few. Sportsmen need training outside of the sport they play.
5 Jun 2009, 13:14 pm
Is Symonds a full-blood Aborigine?
5 Jun 2009, 13:33 pm
Actually the entire Southern Hemisphere needs drink counselling…Only ones who seem to do it civillized are the Europeans(Excl. UK)
5 Jun 2009, 13:35 pm
Bokfan – no hes not fullblood, because half his blood normally is alcohol…
5 Jun 2009, 14:01 pm
How many times has this oke not been fined, reprimanded or sent home for boozing or fishing or a combination of both? He clearly has no desire to be there. His slurring rant on that radio chat show was supposed to be the last straw. Get him into rehab. Herschelle can be his Big Brother.
5 Jun 2009, 14:15 pm
Oxymoron:
One of his parents are Anglo Saxon Australian & the other is from the Carribbean. He has no aboriginal in him. He is simply a tool who likes his rum & his fishing.
5 Jun 2009, 14:17 pm
#7 katman: Now thats a good idea…
5 Jun 2009, 14:28 pm
I read on news24 that team management including Ponting and Clarke had made a decision to send him home, what double standards!! I recall early in Ponting’s career he had to to be rehabilitated because of also alcohol and gambling addictions.
Cricket Australia stood by him, somewhat sad to see someone with Ponting’s background of “addiction” turn his back on a fellow addict!
5 Jun 2009, 15:00 pm
dis ou nuus mense…..volgende?
5 Jun 2009, 15:42 pm
lolol@ slappes
5 Jun 2009, 20:26 pm
One of the greatest complications western civilisation has bestowed on indigenous peoples all across the globe is alcohol. The aborigenies of Australia have been particularly harshly affected, and this is a bit of a sad reflection on this issue.
I recently watched a program on satellite where entire outback Aborigine poulations have been barred from drinking and pornography, in an attempt to curtail the behaviour caused by these two western vices on the indigenous populace.
It is quite sad that Andrew Symond’s story is a reflection of this very issue. The question that begs to be answered is whether he got pissed and rude whilst enjoying his beer and footie, or whether he got the short end of the stick?
If Herschelle Gibbs could successfully complete booze rehab and be accepted back into the team, why can’t the same apply to Oz?
5 Jun 2009, 20:32 pm
#13 Jacques Snyman Website Design: reread post 8… he is of West Indian descent, not aboriginal…though he was stood down because he went on a fishing trip, rather then train I think, so its attitude with Symonds, nothing more
as for Punter, he was assaulted in a bar in Kings Cross, he was dealt with at the time and changed his attitude and his habits, the promise of being the next Aussie captain had a lot of sway in this…
5 Jun 2009, 20:35 pm
#14 poppa69: should read “though he was stood down previously because he went on a fishing trip”
5 Jun 2009, 20:35 pm
#3 Oxy moron: Although he isn’t an indigenous player (to Oz anyways) Lots of Tequila, Lote Tiquiri has also had his issues.
Just look over to the New Zealand teams and the continual drink related assault, drunk driving and other issues emanating from their S14 and All Blacks playerswho hail from the South Seas Islands, is also indicative of some base issues here.
5 Jun 2009, 20:39 pm
#14 poppa69: Ta 4 the background there POPPA! The press sure has made him seem like an Aboriginal sports star….suppose that was just typical Aussie hype…
I do feel that sportspeople and others who get thrust into the spotlight should be (irrespective of race, please leave this out of it, as I can name loads of local bad boy white ouse) properly councelled and equipped with tools to handle the pressures heaped upon them.
When everybody in the pub wants to be your friend it is really hard to stay sober!
5 Jun 2009, 20:42 pm
Fkol happening here… I am out
5 Jun 2009, 20:44 pm
Good riddance.
5 Jun 2009, 20:52 pm
#17 Jacques Snyman Website Design: agreed..I think it needs to be taken a step further, should be teaching kids at school (12-15 year olds) the dangers and pitfalls of drinking, using some of these “fallen” stars as examples…
it causes too many problems, just visit any accident and emergency department in a hospital in SA, NZ or Aust on a friday and saturday night and see the victims of the drinking culture…
unfortunately, most people drink to excess, believing they will gain more respect from their peers if they get totally wasted…
5 Jun 2009, 20:54 pm
#19 Bul-a-Bhloo: Sterk gevriet assie baas weg is…LMAO
5 Jun 2009, 20:58 pm
#20 poppa69: Agreed big time! I used to work clubs, pubs and other fun venues, where alcohol is the poison of chopice to lower inhibitions…..boy, can I tell you lots of stories….however the bottom line is that education is key herE!
5 Jun 2009, 21:08 pm
#22 Jacques Snyman Website Design: yep, seen a lot in my 5 years working at the casino here in Sydney..
5 Jun 2009, 21:09 pm
#22 Jacques Snyman Website Design: Quite right, education is the key. But the right education for the country’s needs, a lot more practical avenues than rocket science.
One must be able to do something with that education – a developing economy dilemma.
6 Jun 2009, 14:21 pm
How many chances does one oke get? He seemed a bit pissed off about not being selected for the Ashes so this how he reacts. Pretty stupid really.
He should get out of cricket and go fishing and drinking if that is what he wants to do.
8 Jun 2009, 05:33 am
#10 die_groot_leeu:
Ponting has stood by Symonds way beyond what Symonds deserved. Eventually, even Ricky tired of Symonds ‘couldn’t give a f**k’ and increasingly arrogant attitude.
Don’t blame Ricky, blame the idiot who cannot take responsibility for his actions and is a serial offender.
I hope Symonds finds help ‘cos he needs it. But I have no sympathy for a person who has been given way more chances than most, to represent his country, and has pissed most away.
8 Jun 2009, 13:19 pm
For all of you talking about Symond’s ethnicity, I think OXY MORON meant to type “naive”, not “native”….
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