Symonds running out of chances

Andrew Symonds' future in international cricket appears to be under threat as a result of his off-field misdemeanours

Andrew Symonds is undoubtedly one of the finest all-round talents in world cricket.

His laid-back attitude, cheeky grin and capacity to swat the world's best bowlers around the park with a laconic disdain endear him as a truly Australian talent.

He is a match-winner in a team where winning matches is a matter of course.

Symonds will join Australia's squad ahead of the World Twenty20 as one of the most feared of all players in the 12-team tournament.

Yet despite all of that, the Queenslander arrived in England believing his Australia career rests on his performances in the competition.

If he does feel such a burden, all indications suggest he is correct to do so.

Following a controversy-filled 10 months Symonds finds himself in a position where, in the eyes of Cricket Australia, his off-field liability outweighs the match-winning plus points he provides on it.

It has cost him a place in the Ashes squad, with the Australias selectors instead planning only to utilise his talents in the shortest version of the game when far greater honours are to be won this English summer.

Some may argue Symonds, who will turn 34 during the World Twenty20, was lucky even to be selected in that squad after his recent problems have seen him left out of major tours of India and South Africa in the past year.

Symonds' problems began last August when he opted to go fishing rather than attend a compulsory team meeting ahead of a one-day series against Bangladesh in Darwin.

The indiscretion would cost him the indignity of being sent home by his own team-mates who, with the power vested in them, voted to exclude Symonds on unprofessional grounds.

“I guess the main concern for us is Andrew's commitment to playing for this team and in my opinion, you need to be committed 100%,” stand-in captain for that series Michael Clarke reasoned.

“That's all facets of being an international cricketer.”

Despite his troubles, Symonds remains a destructive force in the limited-overs game

It was a damning criticism of Symonds' desire for the cause especially as it came from not only a team-mate, but a close friend.

It is a criticism that has undermined Symonds' reputation ever since as his dedication to the national team has come under intense scrutiny in the Australian media.

His cause was not helped when he failed to convince CA he wanted to tour India last September, and was duly left out of that team, amid claims he was ready to walk away from the game.

“I don't think that's impossible,” CA chief executive James Sutherland said at the time.

“I think the message the Australian players have sent is that we want Andrew Symonds in our team, but we want Andrew Symonds absolutely committed and wanting to be there. They're really asking him that question.

“If he can't answer that question, it may well be that he's lost to the team.”

Answering the question has proved a difficult task for Symonds and further controversies failed to inspire the confidence needed to win over his detractors.

After failing to impress on his return to the national team in the Australian summer, Symonds landed himself in hot water again when in a radio interview he insulted New Zealand wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum.

The obligatory fine and a public apology to McCullum had seemed an end to the matter until CA blocked Symonds' selection for the tour to South Africa.

Symonds was told by CA to seek counselling to prove his commitment to the team before he would be considered for selection again. There were fortnightly reports sent to CA about his progress.

If Symonds did not feel patronised then, certainly the trust between player and team management was lost.

Recovering that trust would seemingly be the key to Symonds remaining an Australia player.

It is something that Symonds will only do with his on-field displays.

His radio interview proves his talking is best done with bat and ball.

After returning to the team last month in the limited overs series against Pakistan in United Arab Emirates, his performances failed to indicate such bridge building could yet be achieved.

The World Twenty20 could provide him with his last chance.