Australia to adopt to life without Symonds
Güncelleme Tarihi:
AFP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Haziran 06, 2009 00:00
LONDON - Australia will be forced into a late change of plan when it begins the quest for the ICC World Twenty20 title against the West Indies at the Oval on Saturday now that Andrew Symonds has been sent home.
The controversial all-rounder was given his marching orders following an alcohol related incident that may well have brought down the curtain on the Queensland star's international career. Symonds's absence robs Australia of one of the leading Twenty20 players.
However, Australia knows what it is like to be rocked by a late withdrawal - leg-spin great Shane Warne sustained a drugs ban on the eve of their unbeaten run to the 2003 World Cup title in South Africa - and still do well.
And experienced fast bowler Brett Lee said of Symonds: "He's a world-class player and to leave a gap like that is not great for the Australian team but we always find a way to fill a void."
Much now will depend on Australia captain Ricky Ponting to get the side back on track. The Tasmanian remains one of the world's best batsmen in all forms of the game and Ponting looked in superb touch while making 56 during a warm-up win over New Zealand this week.
"He has let himself down, let all his teammates down and Cricket Australia down," was Ponting's assessment of Symonds. "It probably throws the balance a little bit in our side but the beauty of our side is that there is a lot of flexibility within the group."
However, Australia knows what it is like to be rocked by a late withdrawal - leg-spin great Shane Warne sustained a drugs ban on the eve of their unbeaten run to the 2003 World Cup title in South Africa - and still do well.
And experienced fast bowler Brett Lee said of Symonds: "He's a world-class player and to leave a gap like that is not great for the Australian team but we always find a way to fill a void."
Much now will depend on Australia captain Ricky Ponting to get the side back on track. The Tasmanian remains one of the world's best batsmen in all forms of the game and Ponting looked in superb touch while making 56 during a warm-up win over New Zealand this week.
"He has let himself down, let all his teammates down and Cricket Australia down," was Ponting's assessment of Symonds. "It probably throws the balance a little bit in our side but the beauty of our side is that there is a lot of flexibility within the group."