True force of nature in spite of a troubled cricket career

There was never any shortage of volcanic action when Andrew Symonds was in his pomp on a cricket field.

Whether smashing sixes for Australia or a variety of English counties and Indian Premier League teams, outwitting opponents with his underrated bowling, or demonstrating his remarkable gazelle-like prowess as a fielder, Symonds was a coruscating force of nature; somebody whose career permanently seemed to be on the edge of a windfall or a catastrophe.

It was tragic enough when the news emerged in March that Shane Warne had died at just 52, so the devastation among the baggy-green brigade was understandable when Symonds was killed in a car crash at the weekend at only 46.

Both men were larrikins, never far away from controversy on and off the pitch, but both were blessed with prodigious talent to burn and an extraordinary knack for seizing matches by the scruff of the neck.

Symonds could have represented England, considering he was born in Birmingham, or turned out for the West Indies, given his African-Caribbean background, but the man nicknamed “Roy” was happiest when he was in Northern Queensland where he grew up with a passion for cricket and a flair for the flamboyant, the extravagant and, occasionally, the downright ridiculous.

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Symonds later recalled: “Dad was cricket mad. He’d throw balls to me five or six days a week, before school, after school. And we’d play all sorts of games inside the house with ping-pong balls and Christmas decorations.”

Much of his junior cricket was played in Townsville for the Wanderers club, with father and son making the 160-mile return trip sometimes two times a week. If it was a trek, neither minded and the youngster gradually began to display the gifts which would subsequently see him play 26 Tests, 198 oneday internationals and 14 Twenty20s for Australia between 1998 and 2009.

There were triumphs aplenty on his CV, and Symonds was a pivotal part of two 50-over World Cup wins for his country and their Ashes victory over England in 2006-07. He was a terrifying prospect at his best and many English bowlers were dispatched to all corners when he signed up at different stages with Kent and Lancashire, Gloucester and Surrey.

But he also had to deal with the blight of racism from fans, who made monkey noises in his direction, and he fell out with the Australian management over his fondness for alcohol, a failing which he admitted in 2009 when he said: “I go out and drink hard all in one hit – too fast, too much”.

He could deal with pressure as long as it was on his terms, but fame and the limelight proved more treacherous.

Many supporters privately cheered when he rugby-tackled a streaker during an ODI against India, but others scolded him for not leaving it to the officials to sort it out. His response – to the effect that if the officials had been doing their job properly, the idiot wouldn’t have gained access to the field in the first place – was correct, but Symonds was never interested in pursuing a career in the diplomatic corps. Everything he did was at full throttle.

When his death was confirmed, I spoke to Paul Hoffmann, the Aussie-born bowler who played for Scotland 119 times. As usual, this genial character had stories to tell and he clearly thought the world of his compatriot.

He told me: “Roy’ loved backyard BBQs, a cold beer, watching rugby league and days spent fishing with his best mate, Matthew Hayden.

“I played against him a couple of times in 1993 when I was playing for New South Wales and he was with the Australian Cricket Academy XI, which also included Ricky Ponting and Brad Hodge.

“We were playing a 50over game at the SCG and Symonds hit an aggressive 20-odd before getting out. However, after that brief innings, (former Australian all-rounder) Greg Matthews told us during our team huddle that ‘he (Symonds) is going to be a future superstar’.

“Well, a couple of days later, we played against the Australian Academy again at North Sydney Oval in a four-day game. Roy destroyed our bowling attack and took no mercy on our spinners as he launched them beyond the stands.

“He belted a ton in less than a run a ball. His shots were effortless, yet the ball would keep smacking off his bat like a bullet. And he could be destructive against either pace or spin, and was athletic and dynamic in the field.

“Roy was one of those rare 360-degree players who could do everything on a cricket field. He was a fierce competitor but he always played the game in the right spirit. He will be sadly missed and it really is very sad news.”

Symonds’ last message on Instagram had been posted after the death of Warne, when he wrote: “Devastated, I’m hoping this is all a bad dream.”

Sadly, it’s more of a nightmare for those who are left behind, including his wife Laura and two children, Chloe and Billy.

PHENOMENON: Australian Andrew Symonds was a powerhouse cricket player whether batting, fielding or bowling.