Cricket Australia said Sunday that swashbuckling former all-rounder Andrew Symonds had died in a car accident, adding to the sport’s recent tragedies of Shane Warne and Rod Marsh.
The 46-year-old was involved in a single-car collision in Townsville, Queensland, on Saturday night, after playing 26 Tests and 198 one-day internationals for Australia between 1998 and 2009.
According to police, emergency personnel attempted to resuscitate the driver and lone occupant, but he died as a result of his injuries after the automobile left the road and rolled.
In a statement, Cricket Australia chairman Lachlan Henderson remarked, “Australian cricket has lost another of its very finest.”
“Andrew was a once-in-a-generation player who helped Australia win World Cups and was a part of Queensland’s rich cricket legacy.
“To many, he was a cult character who was cherished by his admirers and friends,” he continued.
Symonds’ death comes just months after the sudden loss of other Australian greats Warne and Marsh, who both died of heart attacks.
“Unfortunately, in these circumstances, I’ve been here far too often this year.” To be honest, I can’t believe it,” former Australia captain Mark Taylor told Channel Nine. “Cricket has had yet another sad day.”
The larger-than-life characters Symonds was well-liked not only for his hard-hitting style of play, but also for his easygoing demeanour.
He was widely regarded as one of Australia’s best all-rounders, capable of bowling both off-spin and medium pace while also providing numerous match-winning innings with his powerful middle-order batting.
Symonds was also an excellent fielder, playing a major role in Australia’s back-to-back 50-over World Cup victories in 2003 and 2007.
He spent 17 seasons with Queensland, as well as stints with Gloucestershire, Kent, Lancashire, and Surrey in the English County Championship, and Deccan Chargers and Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League.
– “Absolutely devastated” –
Former Australian teammate Jason Gillespie tweeted, “Horrible news to wake up to.” “I’m completely devastated. We’ll all miss you, buddy.”
“This really hurts,” tweeted Adam Gilchrist, a former teammate who most recently co-hosted a Fox Sports show with Symonds, while Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar said he was “devastated.”
“Simmo… this doesn’t feel real #RIP,” said former England captain Michael Vaughan.
Symonds, who was born in England and had one Afro-Caribbean father, is also known for the infamous “monkeygate” affair, which pushed him into a downward spiral.
In the 2008 New Year Test in Sydney, he claimed India spinner Harbhajan Singh called him a “monkey.”
Singh was punished for three games after denying any wrongdoing. In a low point for India-Australia cricket ties, the ban was reversed when India threatened to quit the tour.
It took a terrible toll on the Australian footballer, who later disclosed.
“That was the beginning of my downhill slide,” he said in 2018. “As a result, I began to drink heavily, and my life began to disintegrate around me.”
After being sent home from the World Twenty20 in England following the latest in a string of alcohol-related infractions, his Cricket Australia contract was withdrawn in June 2009.
Despite their hostility, Symonds and Harbhajan reconciled and played together in the Indian Premier League, with the Australian going on to have a successful career as a recognised television analyst following his retirement.
