Symonds ruled out of SA tour

Andrew Symonds is out of the Australia squad to tour South Africa this month

Andrew Symonds has been ruled out of the upcoming tour of South Africa after Cricket Australia advised the national selection panel that the all-rounder needed further rehabilitation and counselling.

The Cricket Australia board met today and decided that Symonds would not be available for selection until he satisfied formal rehabilitation criteria.

Symonds was sanctioned for 'detrimental public comment' last week and fined $4,000 after abusing New Zealand wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum on a radio programme.

CA has decided the all-rounder is not yet of the right state of mind to represent Australia.

"Our assessment is that he is making good progress but that his commitment needs testing against new, tougher criteria we will finalise after consultation with his counsellors, the ACA and Queensland Cricket," Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland said.

"We have a responsibility to Andrew and his welfare but we also have a responsibility to Australian cricket to ensure his commitment is as it needs to be before he can be considered for national selection."

Sutherland revealed CA had received feedback from the state, national players and Australian team management that Symonds was making good progress with the rehabilitation program he is undertaking.

Symonds was informed of the decision today, one which Sutherland described as 'tough but appropriate' and in Symonds' best interests.

But the door, it appears, remains open for the all-rounder's potential involvement in tours beyond South Africa.

"It's a tough stance but it's an appropriate stance in the circumstances," said Sutherland.

"It can be looked at as a sanction but I would prefer to look at this as a decision in the best interests of Andrew Symonds as well.

James Sutherland is keen for Symonds' to be given time to prove his commitment to Cricket Australia

"This period back in Australia will provide him with an opportunity to have some more intense counselling and to work through some of his issues."

Sutherland, who advised Symonds over the phone of the board's decision, said that while the 33-year-old was disappointed he was grateful that he remained contracted to Cricket Australia.

Asked whether Cricket Australia had considered tearing up Symonds' contract Sutherland replied: "At various stages over the past few weeks, a whole lot of things have been discussed and considered."

Sutherland side-stepped the question of whether this was Symonds' 'last chance' but insisted Cricket Australia would meet with him over the next few weeks to spell out its requirements.

"There's two steps to it," he added. "One is satisfaction about the progress that he's making in terms of his rehabilitation.

"If there is satisfaction about that down the track, the next step is for the selectors to consider the appropriateness of him being included into the team for whatever tour is next."

Symonds was initially referred for counselling when suspended over last year's 'gone fishing' affair, and his commitment to a rehabilitation programme was a condition of his return to domestic and international cricket.

The all-rounder had been making steady progress, according to Sutherland, until his recent radio outburst.

Returning to action for Queensland over the past week after being sidelined with a knee injury, Symonds failed to impress in the Sheffield Shield match against Western Australia.