Why Australia need Symonds in India
Posted on Sep 03, 2008 at 09:21 | Updated Sep 04, 2008 at 12:31
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Mumbai: As much as India-Australia series are about keen contests, they are also about personalities - a stylish batsman like VVS Laxman turning a Test match on its head, a tear-away fast bowler like Brett Lee ripping through the opposition and characterslike Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds adding drama to the goings on.
Does the absence of a player like Symonds make much of a difference to a top team like Australia? Is it only a psychological difference or will the team miss the all-rounder in various departments? Cricketnext.com caught up with a number of former players to try and gauge the brawny cricketers’ importance for the Australian team, which is due to tour India next month. Symonds, as you would know, may not be part of the touring party owing to disciplinary problems during the ongoing tour of Bangladesh.
Former India wicket-keeper Kiran More, who was the chief selector before Dilip Vengsarkar took over, felt Symonds was a key player for Australia who had proved himself in Indian conditions.
"He is a top class player, who can swing the match with his hard-hitting batting and brilliant fielding. He is also a useful medium-pacer who can turn the ball on spinner-friendly wickets," More told, Cricketnext.com.
"I would consider him as the most dangerous player in world cricket because of his ability to adjust to different conditions. He can also change gears according to the situation of the match," added the former Baroda player.
"Even though the Aussies have managed to find good replacements in the past, it will be a big task to find someone to replace Symonds. His explosive batting can be compared to former greats like Vivian Richards and his utility as an all-rounder can be as much as Garry Sobers’ used to be for the West Indies," felt More.
Chandrakant Pandit, who kept wickets for Mumbai during his prime, agreed with More.
"Symonds is one of their main players and his absence will affect the balance of the team. He has done very well in Indian conditions and won matches for Australia single handedly," Pandit said.
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Total Comments: 4
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Posted By Rounak Mishra
Even Symonds will not play cricket in India but Australia is one kind of team who can replace the same
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Posted By atut
symond is one of the danger player and more important for the australian team if he will get quit form
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Posted By Nitesh
How fair and balanced! All opinions are taken from ex-Indian players, coz of course Indian would players know a lot
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Posted By jacki
It will make a HUGE difference not having Roy in the team and Australia\''s cricket team will be significantly weaker
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