Where did it all go wrong, Andrew?

Peter Lalor, writing in the Weekend Australian, looks back at Andrew Symonds’ behaviour over the past year. He says Symonds sees life through the glass darkly.

This summer his team-mates were told they had to keep a close eye on him. Management told the players that he couldn't be left alone when out drinking, his peers had to tell him when he had had enough and when it was time to go home. Unfortunately for the 33-year-old his peers have left the Australian cricket team.

In the Sydney Morning Herald Will Swanton analyses the picture of Ricky Ponting wearing a VB cap while lamenting the ruinous effect of alcohol on Symonds.

Ironic? Hypocritical? Irresponsible choice of major sponsor? Cricket Australia freely promotes alcohol and makes millions of dollars from it.

Chloe Saltau says in the Age that if Symonds had been sent home from the England tour in 2005 it would have saved Australian cricket a lot of trouble. In the Herald Sun Ruth Lamperd looks at the financial implications for Symonds.