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CA fails to check repeat offender Symonds

By IANS,

Sydney : Andrew Symonds committed yet another breach of discipline when he skipped a compulsory recovery session with Queensland, six weeks after being sent home for missing a team meeting in Darwin.

Cricket Australia (CA) despite being aware of the incident- it was Symond’s third breach of his CA contract in three years- took no action. In fact, CA chief James Sutherland said the indiscretion was “not my business”, giving weight to the criticism of Australian cricket’s governing body’s failure to act decisively to address the all-rounder’s disciplinary issues.

According to Herald Sun, Symonds failed to attend a Queensland recovery session Oct 13, and later confessed he had slept in. He was then warned by Queensland chief executive Graham Dixon and coach Trevor Barsby.

The all-rounder contacted his counselling team, who informed about the incident to Sutherland.

Sutherland responded by saying he was interested only in a professional appraisal as to whether Symonds was mentally fit to be available for Australian selection.

CA spokesman Peter Young confirmed Sutherland was aware of Symonds’s indiscipline.

“James Sutherland’s opinion was that it was not his business and the only thing he was interested in was the counsellor’s eventual advice as to whether Andrew could be considered for selection again,” Young said.

The 33-year-old was embroiled in more controversy last Monday when he had an altercation with a fan at the Normanby Hotel in Brisbane.