What shall we do with Roy?
Should Australia be contemplating sterner action against their stormy allrounder? We asked three experts
12-Sep-2008
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John Benaud
former Australian selector
He is having a battle with the board and probably is on the losing end. He should have moved on for the better. He is unhappy at the moment and you don't want an unhappy player in the team. As such, he has lost faith and has lost focus a little bit. He was always good as an allrounder in ODI cricket, but I don't think he ever thought of himself in the same fashion when it came to Test cricket. He is better off enjoying the Twenty20 cricket.
former Australian selector
He is having a battle with the board and probably is on the losing end. He should have moved on for the better. He is unhappy at the moment and you don't want an unhappy player in the team. As such, he has lost faith and has lost focus a little bit. He was always good as an allrounder in ODI cricket, but I don't think he ever thought of himself in the same fashion when it came to Test cricket. He is better off enjoying the Twenty20 cricket.
Mike Coward
veteran Australian cricket writer
He is a very ungrateful cricketer. He's been supported, particularly by Ricky Ponting and other players, for nearly ten years. One of Ponting's greatest achievements as captain was to champion Symonds into the one-day team and ultimately into the Test team. He met with a lot of opposition but he never lost faith in what Symonds could do. By his behaviour Symonds has insulted Ponting and a lot of his team-mates. Even to this day he hasn't apologised to the team or contacted any of the Cricket Australia officials. He is 33. You've got to take responsibility for your career at some point, which he has not done. The Australian cricket team has been so tight for so long - one of its strengths has been in collective unity, the belief in each other and support of each other. But Symonds believes he is above the group, which is just unacceptable.
veteran Australian cricket writer
He is a very ungrateful cricketer. He's been supported, particularly by Ricky Ponting and other players, for nearly ten years. One of Ponting's greatest achievements as captain was to champion Symonds into the one-day team and ultimately into the Test team. He met with a lot of opposition but he never lost faith in what Symonds could do. By his behaviour Symonds has insulted Ponting and a lot of his team-mates. Even to this day he hasn't apologised to the team or contacted any of the Cricket Australia officials. He is 33. You've got to take responsibility for your career at some point, which he has not done. The Australian cricket team has been so tight for so long - one of its strengths has been in collective unity, the belief in each other and support of each other. But Symonds believes he is above the group, which is just unacceptable.
Darren Lehmann
president of the Australian Players Association
He shouldn't be dropped. Andrew still wants to play for Australia and he is fit to play. Despite whatever has happened, the process is now in place for him to come back and I think he will play for Australia.
president of the Australian Players Association
He shouldn't be dropped. Andrew still wants to play for Australia and he is fit to play. Despite whatever has happened, the process is now in place for him to come back and I think he will play for Australia.
Interviews by Nagraj Gollapudi