You have to respect Andrew Symonds.
Most people start off immature, and slowly grow up. It takes some longer than others, and occasionally you get to a certain age and have a mid life crisis where you become immature for a little time.
Andrew Symonds has dome something different, he is losing all the maturity he never really had. He is now rivalling Michael Slater for the most dramatic loss of an international career in the modern era.
How long ago was the guy the best-performed batsmen in the team, less than 12 months ago, at most? Now what is he, a punch line, a drunkard, an angry mofo, a bitter man with psychological issues, and ancient relic that CA wouldn’t put within chequebook reach of a corporate partner?
That is some turn around.
The event in the Brisbane bar is not really newsworthy, it’s just that he was there, and it can be added to the many, many, many other stories about Roy’s out of control behaviour. And they are just the ones that are in print; there are many more that have never made it to the media.
When I was in Kent this year, I asked some of the fans about how he was when he played for them. There was a lot of head shaking, murmuring about off field problems, and no one seemed that sad that someone of his talent left their team.
Back then Roy was still a top class cricketer; he isn’t now. Right at the moment his drinking and odd behaviour are the story.
Personally I like drunkard cricketers, but I like them better when they play well with it. Roy isn’t pulling out Ian Botham performances anymore. He is now more Gavin Hamilton.
His consistency in doing things with alcohol that make the media is outstanding though. He gets caught doing something stupid almost weekly. You could argue it should be a story if Roy doesn’t get drunk and do something stupid for a month.
Chris Simpson has defended the latest bar room ruckus and says, “I don’t consider that he was loud and boisterous.” Like that matters.
It makes the newspapers, we laugh at Roy and the selectors ink in James Hopes, Shane Watson and Andrew McDonald on the short list for the Ashes.
When Roy’s moment of clarity finally comes, there wont be a test spot available to him. Test cricketer has lost an entertainer, but gained a punch line.
While Jarrod is new to Crikey, for quite some time he has been darkening the towels over at cricket with balls.
