Symonds the ungracious

In the Australian Mike Coward writes about how Andrew Symonds has let down his captain Ricky Ponting with his behaviour.

Symonds' ingratitude, especially to Ponting, defies belief. Many men who have led Australia in the past would not have been as forgiving as Ponting, who has expended so much emotional energy to mentor Symonds throughout his career.

Yet again Symonds has seriously disrupted and distracted the Australian team and the army of specialists attached to it before an important match. Again he has forgotten his debt to Ponting. And to make matters worse, this time his great mate and fishing pal Matthew Hayden is playing his 100th Test match and was entitled to be the focus of attention going into the match. Perhaps that fact also slipped his mind.