Passing of true legend
Townsville grieves for great sport
THE Townsville sporting community has been left heartbroken after the sudden, tragic death of former cricketer Andrew Symonds – just months after Australia lost two of its greatest players.
Symonds died from injuries sustained in a crash on Hervey Range Rd near Alice River, when his car left the road and rolled at 11pm on Saturday.
Symonds’s death is the third to hit the Australian cricketing community in 2022.
His death follows the shock passing of cricket legends Shane Warne and Rod Marsh, both in March.
Speaking to the Bulletin, North Queensland Cricket president Peter Busch said he had been “absolutely shattered” after hearing about Symonds’s death.
While Mr Busch’s relationship with Symonds had begun over electrical gear for his fishing ventures, Mr Busch said Symonds had been a man who could be relied on for anything.
“I didn’t see him as a cricket legend, I just saw him as a man that you could go to (and) discuss anything,” Mr Busch said.
“He was always there, you know.”
Mr Busch remembered the time Symonds had called his son to give him cricketing advice. He also recalled a time when Symonds even brought him a shirt signed by five cricket greats, including Ricky Ponting.
“He was the smartest man … he just kept things simple and accurate; just a good guy (with) a lovely family,” he said.
“We need more (like Symonds), we seem to lose the good ones.”
Symonds had been a member of the Brothers Rugby Union Club for about a decade, with co-president Chris Stone remembering him for his remarkable talents – both on and off the field.
“Up until recently he would show up to football training with a big pot of chilli mudcrabs to share and keep in the loop with everyone at the club,” Mr Stone said.
“He was a fantastic player, and an even better bloke. With his skill, and on-field charisma and personality, he was a truly inspirational bloke.”
Mr Stone said Symonds was well known for his rousing halftime speeches that would leave players feeling like they could “run through a brick wall”.
He said even if a person had five minutes with Symonds, the wisdom they’d gain from him could “change the course of their day”.
“So many people are hurting today,” he said. “From a club perspective, we are so grateful for the time we had with Roy, and counted him among our club legends.”
In his cricket career, Symonds played 26 Tests, 198 One Day Internationals and 14 T20 Internationals, among other accomplishments.