Symonds to face Knight Riders in practice games

Andrew Symonds is set to play his first matches for Queensland since being cut from the Australia squad in Darwin nearly a month ago. Symonds will turn out for the Bulls in a pair of Twenty20 games against the Kolkata Knight Riders in Brisbane on Sunday.

The double-header at Allan Border Field will provide Symonds with another competitive outlet following his return to club cricket last weekend. That came after Symonds spent several weeks pondering his future having been sent home from Darwin for going fishing when he should have been at a team meeting.

While all eyes will be on Symonds on Sunday, the Knight Riders coach John Buchanan, who formerly was in charge of Queensland, said the series of games would be important in the development of his side. Buchanan wants to form a long-term link between the Knight Riders and the Bulls.

"The last few weeks we've done some talent hunting around the cities of India and we've brought a few of those players out," Buchanan said. "We've got some of our more experienced players here like Ajit [Agarkar]. Part of it is getting ready for next season, but another part is just to say the Kolkata Knight Riders exists, not just in Kolkata, but around India and out here."

Buchanan has also recruited his son Michael to play for the Knight Riders in the series of games in Brisbane, which continues with further double-headers on Tuesday and Thursday. The younger Buchanan has played 11 one-day games for the Bulls but does not currently hold a state contract.