Surrey take a gamble on Andrew Symonds

London:

Badboy Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds has been given another chance to prove his worth in English cricket when Surrey signed him up for their Twenty20 campaign this season on Wednesday.

The 34-year-old - whose natural talent has been overshadowed on occasion by his exploits off the field that have seen him disciplined by Australia - has previously played for Kent, Lancashire and Gloucestershire.

Chris Adams, cricket manager of the county, said that he had not been dissuaded by the poor disciplinary record of the 26-time capped Symonds.

"I guess I'm attracted to the broken souls," said Adams, a former England test batsman and county championship-winning captain with Sussex.

"If we can provide an environment for Andrew to come back and reinvent himself then it's win-win. We'll get the best out of him and he'll get the best out of us."

Symonds said he was looking forward to the prospect of again playing in England, in the shortest version of the game.

"I've always enjoyed playing in England and am looking forward to playing for Surrey," he told the county's website.

"I consider myself lucky to have the opportunity to play this exciting form of tournament cricket."

Symonds' off the pitch exploits have sadly earned him the reputation of being a troublesome presence in the dressing room.

During the 2005 Ashes tour, Symonds was dropped by Australia for indulging in a late-night drinking session on the night before a crucial one-day match against Bangladesh. Bangladesh went on to win the tie by five wickets - their first victory over Australia.

He was also sent home from Australia's 2008 tour of Bangladesh and dropped from the tour of India later that year after missing a compulsory meeting in order to go fishing.

He was also dismissed from the Australian team at last year's world Twenty20, his third disciplinary sanction in a year which culminated in his central contract being withdrawn.