Andrew Symonds was the sole passenger in the crash just outside of Townsville in his home state of Queensland, police confirmed
Andrew Symonds (9 June 1975 – 14 May 2022) was an Australian international Hall of Fame cricketer, who played all three formats as a batting all-rounder. He was an important member of two World Cup winning squads. Symonds played as a right-handed, middle order batsman and alternated between medium pace and off-spin bowling. He was also notable for his exceptional fielding skills
After mid-2008, Symonds spent significant time out of the team, due to disciplinary reasons, including alcohol.[1] In June 2009, he was sent home from the 2009 World Twenty20, his third suspension, expulsion or exclusion from selection in the space of a year. His central contract was then withdrawn,[2] and many cricket analysts speculated that the Australian administrators would no longer tolerate him, and that Symonds might announce his retirement.[3] Symonds eventually retired from all forms of cricket in February 2012, to concentrate on his family life.
Former Australia cricketer and two-time World Cup winner Andrew Symonds died in a car crash on Saturday night.
The 46-year-old was the sole passenger in the crash just outside of Townsville in his home state of Queensland, police confirmed.
“Early information indicates, shortly after 11pm the car was being driven on Hervey Range Road, near Alice River Bridge when it left the roadway and rolled,” the police statement confirmed.
“Emergency services attempted to revive the 46-year-old driver and sole occupant, however, he died of his injuries.
The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating.”
Symonds averaged 40.61 with the bat from 26 Tests for his country but was perhaps more well known for his exploits in white-ball cricket
He featured in 198 ODIs — scoring six centuries and 30 half-centuries — while also contributing 133 wickets with his more than handy off-spin and medium pace.
It was at the 2003 World Cup where Symonds burst onto the stage with perhaps his greatest innings as he torched Pakistan with an unbeaten 143 in Johannesburg early in the tournament and helped Australia remain unbeaten and defeat India in a one-sided final.
The swashbuckling right-hander was also part of the victorious World Cup side at the 2007 World Cup in West Indies as Australia claimed their fourth 50-over World Cup title.
Symonds also played 14 T20I for Australia, managing 337 runs and eight wickets.
He was the third former Australian cricketer to tragically pass away in 2022 after champion leg-spinner Shane Warne died from a heart attack in Thailand in March. Former wicketkeeper Rod Marsh also passed away from a heart attack earlier this year.
Former Australian captain Allan Border was among those to pay tribute to Symonds on Sunday.
Border said Symonds “hit the ball a long way and just wanted to entertain”.
“He was, in a way, a little bit of an old-fashioned cricketer,” Border told the Nine Network. “He was an adventurer, loved his fishing, he loved hiking, camping. People liked his very laid-back style.”
In 2008, Symonds missed Australia’s one-day series against Bangladesh after going fishing when he was required to attend a team meeting. He also was disciplined prior to the 2009 Twenty20 World Cup for breaching team rules around alcohol.
With dreadlocks and his face daubed with zinc cream, Symonds always cut a flamboyant figure in the Australian team.
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