Symonds to make comeback in New Zealand Test

MELBOURNE: Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds, dropped from the national side for the series against India after missing a compulsory team meeting in Darwin in August, could return to country duty in the first Test against New Zealand next month.
    
A report in 'The Age' said he was in a "good place" and was expected to make a comeback by November 20.
    
Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland met Symonds recently in an effort to find out his well being and the administrator was impressed by the Queenslander's progress.
    
Symonds was axed from the Australia cricket team after the "gone fishing" controversy in Darwin.
    
Although Sutherland would not specify a date, it is believed Symonds is on track to return in the Brisbane Test.
    
"We had a good chat," Sutherland said adding, "Over the last month or so, I've had regular chats with Andrew over the phone and I caught up with him face-to-face in Brisbane a few weeks ago - as much as anything, to be able to talk to him face-to-face and see how he's coming along.
    
"It was a good chat. He understands where we are up to and vice versa. He'd probably be liking to make a few more runs. I think he's in a good place. I know talking to him and others who are close to him as he seeks to come back to full strength - mental, physical and skill-wise - that he's progressing really well.
   
"He's in a good place and perhaps one of the missing bits of the jigsaw at the moment is just his on-field form," he
     
"Certainly in terms of effort and application, everything is really, really good."
    
Sutherland further said there would be no "crunch meeting" to decide Symonds' return but said he would continue to stay in touch with the cricketer.