Andrew Symonds retires from all cricket, won't play IPL
Andrew Symonds, the former Australia allrounder, has announced his retirement from professional cricket, citing family reasons.
Andrew Symonds, the former Australia allrounder, has announced his retirement from professional cricket, citing family reasons. He hasn't played for Australia since being sent home from the World Twenty20 in England three years ago but has turned out for several domestic sides in limited-overs cricket.
His only current contract was with the Mumbai Indians, but he will not be participating in this year's IPL. "Effective immediately, I am retiring from all forms of professional cricket," Symonds said. "It is with regret that I will not be able to fulfill my final year of the IPL with the Mumbai Indians. Mumbai Indians and the IPL have both been very supportive of me, but the impending arrival of my first child is a priority."
Symonds, 36, had cut ties with his home side Queensland before the 2010-11 Big Bash, and has only played for Mumbai since. He was snapped up for $850,000 at the IPL auction last year, but he had an indifferent time with Mumbai. Symonds failed to make a half-century in either the IPL or the Champions League T20 in 2011, and struggled to hold down a permanent spot in the line-up.
Mumbai thanked Symonds for his performance in 2011. "Andrew Symonds was an integral part of Mumbai Indians in season 4 as well as our Champions League winning team," a team spokesman said. "He was a great team player and the youngsters always looked up to him for guidance."
A two-time World Cup winner, Symonds was an acknowledged master of limited-overs cricket. A combination of big-hitting batting, tigerish fielding and an ability to bowl either spin or medium-pace made him an indispensable part of the Australian side for much of the 2000s.
Just when it seemed he would belatedly transfer that form to the Test format as well, he became embroiled in the biggest controversy of his career after alleging that India offspinner Harbhajan Singh racially abused him in the Sydney 2008 Test.
His international career was hit by more trouble later that year, when he missed a compulsory team meeting to go on a fishing trip ahead of a one-day series against Bangladesh. He was left out for the India tour which followed as well as the visit to South Africa soon after.
Symonds was given a chance to prove himself once more at the World Twenty20 in 2009, but an alcohol-related issue before the tournament brought his Australia days to an end.