After becoming Australia's latest million-dollar cricketer, it seems that Andrew Symonds is a distracted soul and runs off his bat have dried up.
SYDNEY: After becoming Australia's latest million-dollar cricketer, it seems that Andrew Symonds is a distracted soul and runs off his bat have dried up, the media reported here Saturday.
According to a report in The Daily Telegraph, Symonds is failing to deliver what Australia needs most - runs. He has scored 42 runs (with a top score of 14) at an average of just 8.40 in six one-day internationals in the tri-series.
That figures are simply not good enough for the second-highest paid player in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The burly all-rounder was bought for $1.35 million by the owners of Hyderabad franchise in an auction.
Symonds has already angered several high-ranking Cricket Australia (CA) officials this summer by his outspoken views on several issues. And now no doubt he has frustrated his team mates and coaches with his form.
But it's not only Symonds whose form is a worry for Australia as he shares the same fate with his captain Ricky Ponting. The Australian captain had scored 64 runs at an average of 10.6 from six matches. Ponting's sudden decision to play with an angled bat is a problem, which is causing him to offer catches behind the wicket.
Ponting is nursing a sore back and needs a break. Australia must be careful to limit his workload this year, but that may be impossible now and he is happy to chase Twenty20 riches in India.
CA could ask why he should be rested during an international season, when he will not take a break even when free of Australian duty.
Matthew Hayden (107 runs at 21.4) has also been out of sorts. At 36, he is clearly in the twilight of his grand career.
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