Big Brother Andrew: The other side to Symonds

Andrew Symonds’ tragic passing has left behind a void in the cricket world which will be hard to replace. A character in the truest sense of the term, he was infamous for his many controversies. Be it the fractious Monkeygate scandal or his various indiscretions, both on and off the field. However, those close to the Aussie remember him quite differently. 

To Indian audiences, his stint in the IPL- as part of Deccan Chargers and Mumbai Indians– helped dispel his bad-boy image in the country. His infectious enthusiasm for the game opened him up to the hearts and minds of players and fans alike. A senior figure on the side, Symonds was instrumental in helping shape the careers of many youngsters. Pragyan Ojha, then a young left-arm spinner at Deccan Chargers, recollects their many interactions with great fondness: 

“He genuinely cared for the team. I remember an incident from 2010, where we had a match in Cuttack the previous night and we had to reach Hyderabad for another match the next day. So, as the players were waiting at the Bhubaneswar airport to catch the early-morning flight, most of them were busy reading newspapers. Symonds went around them and a few minutes later, snatched the newspapers and told them to talk to each other and communicate.”

Symonds was a man of few words, but his economy of words should not be mistaken for something more sinister. Instead, he was forgiving and willing to look past old skirmishes. When Symonds, along with Ojha and Rohit Sharma, was drafted by the Mumbai Indians in 2011, everybody expected sparks to fly between him and Harbhajan Singh in the dressing-room. But to their surprise (and relief, one might add) the two got on fairly well. “At Mumbai Indians, he started sharing a good bond with Bhajju pa (Harbhajan). After whatever happened in Sydney, no one would have thought of something like that to happen, but they had moved on and shared a good rapport. That explains his character and he was also fond of a lot of young Indian cricketers, including Yuzvendra Chahal. He enjoyed his moments and was always there for the team,” Ojha adds.

It is in the nature of death- the finality it imposes- to remember people with a degree of fondness. While indeed true, Symonds has left an impression deep enough on those who worked with him closely, as well as those fortunate enough to watch his explosive displays with the bat, ball and on the field.