Former Australia cricketer Andrew Symonds has died aged 46 after being concerned in a car crash.
The all-rounder performed 26 Tests, 198 one-day internationals and 14 Twenty20s for Australia between 1998 and 2009.
A strong batter, canny bowler and positive fielder, Symonds was a part of two 50-over World Cup wins and Australia’s Ashes victory over England in 2006-07.
Queensland police stated early data indicated Symonds’ car “left the roadway and rolled”.
An announcement added: “Emergency providers tried to revive the 46-year-old driver and sole occupant, nonetheless, he died of his accidents.
“The forensic crash unit is investigating.”
Symonds’ spouse Laura informed the Brisbane Courier Mail: “We are nonetheless in shock – I’m simply considering of the 2 children.”
Cricket Australia stated it was “shocked and saddened by the information”.
Born in Birmingham however raised in Australia, Symonds performed county cricket in the UK for Gloucestershire, Kent, Lancashire and Surrey.
He additionally performed for Queensland for 17 seasons, and for Deccan Chargers and Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League.
Symonds’ exploits with Gloucestershire, who he had initially represented as a home participant, earned him a call-up for an England A tour in 1995 – however he declined the supply and selected to pursue his ambitions to play for Australia, making his ODI debut three years later.
He had collectively held the document for many sixes hit in a County Championship innings – he hit 16 in a knock for Gloucestershire towards Glamorgan in 1995 – till Ben Stokes bettered his total last week.
His passing is one other vital loss for Australian cricket, following the deaths of former wicketkeeper Rod Marsh and legendary leg-spinner Shane Warne earlier this 12 months.
Cricket Australia chair Lachlan Henderson stated: “Australian cricket has misplaced one other of its perfect. Andrew was a generational expertise who was instrumental in Australia’s success at World Cups and as a part of Queensland’s wealthy cricket historical past.
“He was a cult determine to many who was treasured by his followers and buddies.”
CEO Nick Hockley added: “Andrew was a much-loved and admired cricketer in Australia and all over the world.
“He was a prodigious expertise from an early age in Queensland together with his clear ball-striking means, shrewd spin bowling and good fielding.
“He can be sadly missed by the Australian cricket neighborhood and notably his very shut buddies on the Queensland Bulls the place he was a well-liked and much-admired team-mate and buddy.
“Our ideas are together with his household and buddies at this devastatingly unhappy time.”
Symonds, who may bowl off-spin or medium tempo, was greatest recognized for his exploits in ODI cricket, in which he scored 5,088 runs at a mean of 39.75 and in addition took 133 wickets.
He scored his first of two Test lots of in the Boxing Day Ashes Test of 2006, hitting 156 as Australia gained by an innings and 99 runs in Melbourne.
But his profession was not with out controversy. In 2009, he was sent home from the World Twenty20 in England for disciplinary causes, which precipitated the top of his worldwide profession.
(*46*)Earlier, in the course of the 2005 tour of England, he was dropped for 2 one-day internationals after turning up drunk to a match towards Bangladesh in Cardiff.
In August 2008, he was despatched residence from Australia’s one-day collection towards Bangladesh in Darwin after lacking a obligatory group assembly in order to go fishing.
Cricketing world pays tribute
Tributes to Symonds, who was nicknamed “Roy”, have poured in from across the cricketing world, together with from former Australia wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist and quick bowler Jason Gillespie – team-mates of Symonds on the 2003 World Cup.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan additionally expressed his disappointment on the information.
Ex-India captain Anil Kumble sent his condolences to Symonds’ household, including it was “tragic information”, whereas former Australia seamer Damien Fleming stated it was “devastating”.
Other gamers and groups from all over the world additionally paid tribute, whereas a minute’s silence was held earlier than the beginning of Sunday’s first Test between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in Chittagong.
