Clarke 'still great friends' with Symonds

Michael Clarke, the Australia vice-captain, says the decision to send Andrew Symonds home ahead of the recent ODI series against Bangladesh in Darwin was a collective one, and not made by him alone. Symonds was punished by the team's leadership group for missing a team meeting - he was out instead on a fishing trip - but the move in Ricky Ponting's absence fuelled speculation that the sanction was instigated by Clarke.

"When I was given the vice-captaincy, I knew part of that role was making sure you put the team first," Clarke told the Sunday Age. "The one thing that has probably been misinterpreted is that I didn't make the decision to send Andrew Symonds home on my own, it was the leadership group.

That group also included Ponting, the coach Tim Nielsen and the team manager Steve Bernard, but it was Clarke who faced the media soon after the decision was made. Clarke, who was one of Symonds' best friends within the team, denied rumours of a rift between the two.

"We believed and still believe it was best for the team and best for Symo as well. I have made clear that I am still great friends with Andrew and I will be until the day I die. I want him back playing because I love playing cricket with him."

Symonds is not part of Australia's touring party in India, a place where Clarke announced his arrival on the Test scene. The first of four Tests will be at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, the same ground where he had scored a century on debut.

"I want it to feel the same," Clarke said. "Four years ago for my debut, it was tough cricket but my mindset was just about absolutely soaking up every chance of playing Test cricket for my country. I don't think that has changed, even if my role in the team has changed a little bit."