On the day when a 11-game ban was imposed on a player for an assault on a team mate from the national team, Symonds speaks about his own experience of facing his countrymen on the field. “It’s a bit of a funny feeling. We have played a lot of cricket together. These blokes are close mates and then suddenly you find yourself playing against them. It’s a strange feeling, but your professional instincts have to take over and you go out there and get the job done,” he says. There have been several instances in the tournament when an Aussie bowler has suddenly shown restraint when he has realised that the batsman who has nicked a four or a survived a confident appeal happens to be his countryman and friend.

During India’s fiery tour Down Under earlier this year, language was said to be a big obstacle between the two teams. Symonds says his interaction with local players with limited knowledge of English has been an enriching experience.

“Generally, one of the players acts as a translator. It’s an interesting way of communication — it’s something I have to get used to since I’ll be in India to play cricket often,” he says.

Ask him about the much hyped Deccan Chargers’ vs Mumbai Indians game yesterday ending in an anti-climax (Harbhajan sat out through suspension and Symonds didn’t bat or bowl) and he smiles. “It’s not important for me to score runs and get wickets. It’s important for me that the team wins the game,” he says, side-stepping the Harbhajan issue again.

... contd.