I liked the article, a change from the usual done-to-death topics and interesting none the less. Blue chip companies are the biggest Nancy hypocrites around, and here they've got their claws on a blue collar institution and turning it into another sanitized marketing vehicle. Internally they're bastions of middle class snobbery, rife with boy's clubs, racism and nepotism, externally they have to be squeakly clean in case anyone dares peek in. They've got the public wrong, guess why we love McEnroe, Fevola, Newman etc, but in todays society no one wants to venture a risk with such characters when the PC mob are sitting by with gritted teeth ready to pounce. Get some balls Cricket Australia.

If Andrew Symonds cut his hair shorter than Clarke and paraded his better half around in a swimsuit he would be captain by now.

I agree with this article. And with Houellebecq. CA hung him out to dry last summer. His crime was to follow the match referees instruction and report any racial abuse. What followed was betrayal from CA and a frenzied reaction in the media.

Little wonder he appears disillusioned.

According to me he is a great all rounder so he must be in team. But due to some of his activities he was out of team so he must improve his behavior.

Christine

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Andrew Symonds has provided fans of Australian and world cricket with much enjoyment over the years. But unfortunately he is an alcoholic with all the baggage that goes with it. Cricket Australia knew this years ago but as long as Andrew could perform, rationalised his behaviour. Now he can't perform he has got the chop. He won't play for Australia again.

On the basis of the ample evidence that has come forth over the years I agree with blairbar. The wonder is that Cricket Australia was loyal to Andrew Symonds for so many years and that he has been propped up at a State level.

Symonds is out because he is not good enough on the day and he is inconsistent. The fact that the causes of his poor performance are known does not alter the fact that his performance is what mattered and that suffered through factors within his own control.

A weak man would blame the booze alone. A scallywag might play up occasionally after a big game but not when it matters, for example when the team and coaches are depending on him to be at training and to be his best for the game.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/cricket/ponting-spills-on-symonds/2005/10/22/1129775998447.html

It is because Cricket Australia is so loyal to its anointed few that there are so many good young players who are crushed through never getting a chance to show what they are capable of.