Troubled Australian Andrew Symonds has declared himself mentally fit for a comeback to the side, claiming that his desire to play cricket has been renewed following weeks of introspection after the 'gone-fishing' misdemeanour.

Symonds, in his just-released book 'Roy on the Rise: A Year of Living Dangerously', has claimed that he lost the desire to play cricket on two occasions.

First was when Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh was let off with just a fine during the Sydney race row and second when he was shunted out of side after missing a customary team meeting for fishing in Darwin.

But counselling and support from Cricket Australia have prepared him for a return.

"That was my biggest worry when I came back from Darwin - whether I wanted the challenge anymore, but I do still want that," Symonds was quoted as saying by 'The Herald Sun'.

"For the first time I've actually sat down and watched a little bit of cricket on TV. I've found myself sitting there wanting to be next in to bat a few times.

"I would have loved to have had that challenge of playing them over there. Obviously that wasn't to be, but I guess that's also a good sign that the hunger is there and I'm looking forward to when I hopefully can get back out there," he added.

Symonds said the reason why he went fishing instead of attending the team meeting in Darwin was that he had ended up misreading his schedule for the day.

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