Australia send Symonds home

Andrew Symonds' international career appears over after he was sent home from ICC World T20 due to an "alcohol-related incident".

Symonds, 34 next week, was due to fly back to Australia at the first opportunity after contravening the self-imposed guidelines set upon his return to the green and gold ranks earlier this year.

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland termed the development, which included more than one breach in the past few days, as the "final straw" on Thursday.

His disciplining is the latest in a string of career indiscretions, including being banned for two matches during the 2005 Ashes tour for turning up for a one-day international against Bangladesh in Cardiff inebriated.

"There are a number of his own commitments that he has broken over the last 24-48 hours," said Australia captain Ricky Ponting.

 

"They are not anything we forced upon him, they were his own commitments, that he was going to live by around the team and they were team rule breaches.

"There was more than one thing that happened and from me, I think it's best just leaving it at that."

Some of Australia's players watched the State of Origin rugby league match between Queensland and New South Wales late Wednesday morning and Symonds was at a charity dinner with his team last night but not at this morning's net session at the Oval.

CA to help in rehab

Sutherland, who announced Symonds' release from Australia's 15-man squad from Melbourne, said: "The breach of team rules of itself was not a major offence but was in effect the final straw after a series of previous indiscretions and in the light of the undertakings Andrew had given.

"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 - and CA will be encouraging and supporting him with continuing rehabilitation on his return home."

Symonds was named in Australia's list of centrally-contracted players for 2009-10 last month but the annual deal, which kicks in from June 30, is now under review.

Final straw

He was on his last chance after the Darwin fishing saga in August last year, during which he missed a team meeting ahead of the one-day series against Bangladesh, and led to him being thrown out of the squad.

In January this year, Symonds conceded alcohol was playing a big part in his life during an apology for the drunken slur he aimed at New Zealand's Brendon McCullum during a radio interview - he was hit with a fine of approximately £2,000.

He was reprieved in early April when he was named in Australia's preliminary 30-man squad for this current tournament and was also recalled for the one-day series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.

Missed opportunities

"I don't think Cricket Australia could have done any more for him, to tell the truth," said Ponting, who was part of the four-man leadership group that recommended Symonds' release to their bosses back home.

"He has been stood down on a number of occasions, he has been working through some processes off the field over the last 12-18 months to make himself better in different aspects of his life.

"I don't think he was rushed back in but unfortunately, both for him and us, he has come back in and this has happened again. He has had plenty of opportunity, that's for sure."

Ponting, who backed Symonds' claims as a player in the past, informed the Australian team of the decision before Thursday's practice.

"Little incidents like this that happen certainly don't have the best outcome on the whole group," Ponting said.

Looking ahead

"This decision is about having the best team environment we can possibly have and giving ourselves the best opportunity of bringing on the next generation of Australian players.

"There's no such thing as a curfew in the Australian cricket team.

"You don't need curfews around good teams. That's what being part of the team's all about, having respect for yourself and your team-mates, and not disrespecting the opportunity you've got as an Australian player."

Australia must now nominate a replacement player, who will then have to be ratified by the event technical committee: a process which is expected to take place in the next 24 hours.

Symo still valuable

But Symonds' on-field value is indisputable - he commanded a $ 1.35 million Indian Premier League price tag last year and was part of Deccan Chargers' title-winning side a matter of weeks ago.

"He will be difficult to replace but we have got what we've got now," Ponting said.

"It is no good worrying about that any more, he's ruled out of this squad and we have to find someone who can have the same kind of impact on a game as what Andrew Symonds can.

"That is the challenge that lies ahead for our group now.

"It throws the balance a little bit in our side. We will probably have to re-jig things and look at things in a slightly different way but the beauty of our team is we have a lot of flexibility."