By IANS,
Melbourne : Spin wizard Shane Warne feels troubled all-rounder Andrew Symonds’ recent act of indiscipline has let down his one time best mate Michael Clarke.
Clarke, who led the side during the Bangladesh series, was a member of the leadership group that sent Symonds home when he chose to go fishing rather than attend a team meeting before the one-day series opener in Darwin last month.
“I would have thought that if Andrew Symonds and Michael Clarke were good friends, then Symo would have more respect for Michael Clarke than that,” Warne was quoted as saying in Herald Sun.
“I think it’s disappointing that he put a young captain like Michael Clarke in that position.
“It was disappointing from Symo, especially with the Australian team not having senior players like Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden there. It’s not a one-off thing, and I just think Symo has showed a lack of respect.”
Symonds will see sports psychologist Phil Jauncey this week to decide on his playing future.
Some feel Symonds could walk away from cricket in lieu of the riches of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
But Warne insisted the only way Symonds would rebuild respect among his Australian teammates was to return as a “better person” and win back his baggy green cap.
“I would be disappointed if he took the easy option and just threw it away,” Warne said.
“He could do that and just take his cash from the IPL, but to me that would be the easy option.
“The hard option and the option that will satisfy him and earn him some respect is to come back a better person and show how important playing for Australia is to him.”