Symonds loses central contract

Andrew Symonds was sent packing from the World Twenty20 - and is unlikely to play for Australia again

Buy this photo

Andrew Symonds’ international career appears to be over after Cricket Australia withdrew its offer of a central contract.

The all-rounder has been replaced by South Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait on the 25-man player list for the 2009-10 season.

Symonds was sent home before the start of the ICC World Twenty20 for an alcohol-related offence, the “final straw” after a chequered track record off the field, according to Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland.

Four years ago, Symonds was dropped from the Australia team for a one-day international against Bangladesh in Cardiff after arriving for the match drunk, with the team going on to suffer a shock defeat.

Having bounced back to establish himself as a regular member of both the Test and ODI sides, Symonds' career hit the crossroads again just over nine months ago when he was sent home from Darwin for going fishing instead of attending a team meeting.

After missing the October tour of India, Symonds was recalled for the Test series against New Zealand but again found himself in hot water following an altercation with a fan at a Brisbane.

Cleared of any wrongdoing for the incident, Symonds missed the latter stages of the Australian summer with a knee injury that required surgery and was again disciplined by Cricket Australia while recovering after abusing New Zealand wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum on the radio.

Ruled ineligible for selection following that incident, Symonds played no part in the tour to South Africa in February and March but was reinstated in April and offered a new central contract.

Overlooked for Ashes selection last month, Symonds was nonetheless included in the World Twenty20 squad but his latest infraction now looks to have brought an end to an excellent but controversial international career.

Tait now has the opportunity to cement himself in the Australia team after being left off the original contract list.

National selection panel chairman Andrew Hilditch said: "Shaun at his best is an important part of our one-day international and Twenty20 make-up and I'm sure he will now seize the opportunity presented to him with this offer of a further Australian contract."