Andrew Symonds Didn’t Play For Money Or Fame – Brett Lee

Former Australian pace bowler Brett Lee said Andrew Symonds was one of the gifted athletes who never played for fame or money.

Symonds died on Saturday (May 14) night at the age of 46 in a car accident about 50 kilometers outside Townsville, a coastal city in the northeastern part of Queensland state in Australia.

A brief look at Andrew Symonds’ international career

Symonds played 26 Tests, 198 ODIs, and 14 T20 International matches for the Australian national team in an international career, that spanned over a decade (1998-2009).

Symonds scored 6887 runs across all formats, averaging 40.27 in 238 international matches. He also picked 165 wickets in his career.

Symonds was part of Ricky Ponting’s victorious Australia in the 2003 and 2007 World Cup. In a match against Pakistan in the 2003 WC in Johannesburg, Symonds tore apart a formidable Pakistan bowling attack comprising Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Shoaib Akhtar.

The right-handed batter remained unbeaten on 143 off 125 balls, his innings was laced by 18 fours and two sixes, striking at 114.

Andrew Symonds was one of the most gifted athletes I’ve ever witnessed: Brett Lee

Lee, who was a teammate of Symonds for more than a decade, said Symonds was one of the best players he saw on the Australian side.

“I knew Roy (Symonds) since the age of 17 from junior cricket. One of the most gifted athletes I’ve ever witnessed. He didn’t play for money or fame, these things were irrelevant to him. As long as he could afford to wet a line & have a cold beer, Roy was happy. First picked in any team,” Lee wrote on his official Twitter handle.

I knew Roy since the age of 17 from junior cricket. One of the most gifted athletes I’ve ever witnessed. He didn’t play for money or fame, these things were irrelevant to him. As long as he could afford to wet a line & have a cold beer, Roy was happy. First picked in any team ? pic.twitter.com/l1JN3HHJdI

— Brett Lee (@BrettLee_58) May 15, 2022

Symonds retired from all formats of cricket in 2012 and became a regular member of broadcasting for Australia’s international games and Big Bash League (BBL).

He played for Surrey, now-defunct team Deccan Chargers, and Mumbai Indians in domestic competitions in India and England.

Also Read: Sachin Tendulkar Recalls MI Memories With Andrew Symonds In A Heartfelt Goodbye