Symonds doesn't fit in new-look Australian team: Fearon

Melbourne:

Dumped after an alcohol-related disciplinary issue, all-rounder Andrew Symonds admits he no longer fits in the evolving environment of the Australian cricket team, says his manager Matt Fearon.

"He did tell me that he needs to surround himself with people he can relate to," Fearon said.

"It's part of his recovery process. Obviously, the Australian team environment no longer offers that. That is not having a go at Cricket Australia, it is just how the environment has evolved," he was quoted as saying by the 'Sydney Morning Herald'.

In the last couple of years, Symonds has seen the retirement of his comtemporaries like Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden, who have been replaced by youngsters and with young blood has evolved a new way of socialising.

Symonds's former Queensland teammate Jimmy Maher feels if the all-rounder is given the right environment he could still flourish.

"It's no surprise that he played so well in the IPL this year under the stewardship of Darren Lehmann and Adam Gilchrist," Maher said.

"They are guys who work on the adage that you train hard and play hard and enjoy yourself. 'Boof' Lehmann has handled him exceptionally well. I dare say if guys like (Matthew) Hayden and (Justin) Langer and Gilchrist were on this trip, the latest incident wouldn't have happened.

"Now when he mentions having a beer some of the new generation look at him like he's from another planet. They want to run off to their rooms to recover (for next match)," he said.