An arrogant, reckless man

Alex Brown writes in the Sydney Morning Herald that Andrew Symonds' latest incident could hardly have come at a worse time and while the evidence suggests he did not instigate the altercation at a Brisbane pub, that won't necessarily save him from punishment.

His stubborn refusal to make peace with CA following January's Adelaide court hearing - in which Australian players were convinced to drop charges of racial abuse against Harbhajan Singh before the Indian spinner's eventual exoneration - has eroded team harmony, and frustrated administrators and teammates alike. Likewise, Symonds's courting of controversy in more social settings has angered many within Australian cricket, particularly as the majority of his teammates seem to have mastered the dual arts of enjoying a beer while avoiding trouble.

Robert Craddock in the Courier-Mail is fed up. He wonders why Steve and Mark Waugh managed to spend about 35 years collectively on tour never once became involved in a bar-room incident, yet it happens to Symonds regularly.

You have reached the end of the road as a dignified sportsman when rugby league players steer clear of you because you are too much trouble. It happened to Andrew Symonds at the Normanby Hotel on Sunday when several Kangaroo players decided Symonds was an incident waiting to happen and moved on to other company.

Being brushed by league players because they deem you "too loud and arrogant" is like being taunted by Warwick Capper because your pants are too tight. It just doesn't get any worse than that ... the final indignity for an arrogant, reckless man who refused to learn from his lessons.

Of course the Normanby Hotel went into predictable damage control mode last night, falling over themselves to defend Symonds. But that's beside the point. Precisely a week ago Symonds was telling the world on Channel 9 how some of his problems were caused by too much drinking. And now this. Symonds's statement released last night portrayed him as the victim. Is he ever guilty?

Chloe Saltau in the Age argues that Cricket Australia have sent all the wrong messages by recalling Symonds before he was ready.