Symonds says game is soft

PM’s XI smash Proteas

ANDREW Symonds has lashed out at the pampered culture of modern cricket, saying it has eroded the treasured status of the baggy green cap.

The former Gold Coast Dolphins all-rounder says Australian players are given too many soft landings and believes a feeling of contentment has led to an alarming loss of hunger to reach the pinnacle of Test cricket.

Symonds declared “wellness tests”, sleep charts and “playing God” with the integrity of the Sheffield Shield has not only ruined the culture but also impacted on the patchy performances of the national team.

He said Cricket Australia’s claims of transparency in the wake of the damning cultural review is “the biggest load of horse s**t you’ve ever heard in your life”.

“As a kid growing up, you wanted to play Test cricket. That hunger, I believe is gone,” Symonds said.

“If you don’t want to play for your country, go and do something else.” SOUTH Africa’s tour of Australia has started poorly with the Proteas beaten by four wickets by a Prime Minister’s XI that had just three players with international experience.

Dismissed for just 173 after winning the toss and batting first, the Proteas were beaten inside 37 overs in the field as captain George Bailey and youngster Josh Phillipe helped the hosts to victory at Canberra’s Manuka Oval.

Most concerning for South Africa will be the fact they played close to what’s expected to be the side they will field against Australia in Sunday’s first one-day international of the three-game series in Perth.

The visitors lost two wickets in the first over of the day to Jason Behrendorff (3-35).