Former all-rounder Andrew Symonds has been expired in a car crash, Cricket Australia stated.
Symonds, who featured in 26 Tests and 198 ODIs for Australia from 1998 to 2009, met with a single-car accident outside Townsville in Queensland State on Saturday night.
Police stated emergency services tried to rescue the driver and sole occupant, however he died from his injuries following the car left the road and tumbled.
“Australian cricket has lost another of its very best,” Cricket Australia chairman Lachlan Henderson cited in a statement.
“Andrew was a generational talent who was instrumental in Australia’s success at World Cups and as part of Queensland’s rich cricket history.”
“He was a cult figure to many who was treasured by his fans and friends,” he further said.
Symonds’ deadly crash comes just months after the demises of fellow Australian greats Warne and Marsh, who both died suddenly from heart attacks.
“Unfortunately I’ve been here too often this year under these circumstances. I actually can’t quite believe it, to be honest,” former Australia skipper Mark Taylor said. “Another tragic day for cricket.”
Symonds was very successful, not only for his hard-hitting approach in the matches but also for his amiable personality.
He was popularly considered one of the most skilled all-rounders Australian cricket has ever seen, bowling both off-spin and medium pace, whilst playing many match-winning hands with his fierce middle-order batting.
Symonds was also a top-rate fielder and was a crucial part of Australia’s back-to-back 50-over World Cups victories in 2003 and 2007.
Domestically, he played for Queensland for 17 seasons, whilst featuring for Gloucestershire, Kent, Lancashire and Surrey in the English County Championship and for Deccan Chargers and Mumbai Indians in the IPL.
Symonds, born in England with one parent of Afro-Caribbean descent, will also be commemorated for the infamous ‘monkeygate’ scandal that sent him into a downward curl.
He blamed India spinner Harbhajan Singh of calling him a ‘monkey’ in Sydney’s 2008 New Year Test.
Singh, who refused any wrongdoing, was suspended for 3 games. The ban was withdrawn when India pressurized to quit the tour in a low point for India-Australia cricket relations.
Despite the odium, Symonds and Harbhajan eventually made up and played together in the IPL, with the Australian hammering a successful career as a respected TV commentator following retiring.
