Mumbai, April 28: Even as Harbhajan Singh faced an army of cameras in New Delhi, his old nemesis Andrew Symonds spent the entire afternoon in the run-down basement of a city hotel. Since he was part of Deccan Chargers’ promotional video shoot on his last day in India before he went home for national duty, there were a couple of cameras focused on him — but the media attention was certainly missing.

The man with a recent history of ugly spats with the Indians isn’t in a mood to add his bit to the highly-sensitive Mohali affair as he jokes with the film crew who want another retake of his bare-chested shot. He speaks, instead, of how he goes back home wiser about India after a fruitful fortnight, time enough to give him a better understanding of the local culture and the dressing room atmosphere. “I am much better off after coming here and playing in India,” he says about this Indian experience. “This trip will certainly go a long way in helping the relationship between players. It gave me an opportunity to know Indian cricket a bit more intimately. This will help us when we play India in the future.”

Symonds goes on to say how the presence of several of his baggy green teammates in several city-based IPL franchises will also help Indians to get to know the Aussies better. He’s also quite elated by the rare experience of hearing a deafening roar from the locals for a four or six off his bat. “It’s really heartening. It was nice to come to India and have the crowd on your side. It’s good that we can do something to improve the relationship between countries that play against each other so often.” He sounds almost statesman-like when he calls this “better for cricket”.

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.

Symonds, who says that he will be in constant touch with his Chargers through the phone, will not be missed just on the field, but also in the dressing room. Team manager Shishir Hattagandi speaks of the live-wire with a dry sense of humour, who ensured a happy dressing room during the Deccan Chargers’ early losing streak.

“It is shocking to know how much he has been misunderstood in India. He is one of the friendliest players I have ever met. Youngsters could always go to him and speak and he has no star tantrums,” says Hattangadi.