Fishing trip costs Symonds place in Australian line-up

Darwin, August 30: An ill-timed fishing trip has cost all-rounder Andrew Symonds his place in the Australian Cricket team for the ongoing limited overs series against Bangladesh, and jeopardised his future international career, team sources said on Saturday.

Symonds, 33, went fishing instead of attending a compulsory team meeting on Friday ahead of Saturday’s opening match of the three-game ODI series. He was expelled for the remainder of the series at the recommendation of the Australian team’s leadership group. Acting Australia captain Michael Clarke said he hoped Symonds could make a return to the Australian team, but emphasised he could only do so if he was willing to conform to team rules.

“We are the greatest sporting team in the world, and we have standards,” Clarke said. “If you don’t fulfill them, unfortunately, you’re not going to be a part of our squad.”

Symonds has a checkered disciplinary record in the national team and CA operations manager Michael Brown said he was been warned that his playing contract would be torn up if he misbehaved again.

Symonds’s worst indiscretion occurred in 2005 when, after an all-night drinking binge, he reported still intoxicated for an ODI against Bangladesh. He narrowly avoided being sent home from Australia’s Ashes tour of England.

Clarke played a part in saving Symonds’s career then but said on Saturday, after Australia’s 180-run win over the visitors, that the all-rounder must win back the respect of his team mates and improve his attitude.

After being suspended for the series, Symonds flew to Brisbane. Coach Tim Nielsen said the failure to attend Friday’s team meeting was the last straw after a number of recent incidents which raised doubts about Symonds’s commitment.

Brief scores: Australia 254/8 in 50 overs (Michael Hussey 85, Shaun Marsh 76; Shahadat Hossain 3/42) beat Bangladesh 74 all out in 27.4 overs (T. Iqbal 21; C. White 3/5) by 180 runs

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