SYDNEY: Andrew Symonds, an Australian former all-rounder who died at the age of 46, was remembered as a superbly skilled cricketer with “a pure heart” at a funeral service on Friday.
Following the untimely losses of greats Shane Warne and Rod Marsh, Symonds was murdered in a single-vehicle accident in northern Queensland earlier this month, leaving Australian cricket reeling once more.
At a public memorial service held at a stadium in Townsville, where he lived, family, friends, fans, and former teammates gathered to honour his life.
Ricky Ponting, Allan Border, Adam Gilchrist, Darren Lehmann, and Ian Healy were among the former cricketers who came out to support ‘Roy’.
Local media stated that it came after a private funeral in which a cricket bat, fishing rod, crab pot, and a variety of caps were placed alongside the lumber coffin.
“The service was just simply beautiful. In its entirety, it was full of sadness, but just such wonderful beautiful memories of a guy that just gave so much of himself to so many people unconditionally,” Gilchrist told reporters.
“He was just a pure heart, found his way into trouble as well as anyone… loyal beyond belief.”
From 1998 until 2009, Andrew Symonds was regarded as one of Australia’s most talented all-rounders, bowling both off-spin and medium pace in 26 Tests and 198 one-day internationals.
With his powerful middle-order batting, he also played numerous match-winning hands, and he was a top-notch defender who helped Australia win back-to-back 50-over World Cups in 2003 and 2007.
“Great bloke, great teammate,” said former Australia captain Ponting, who chose Symonds for the 2003 World Cup in South Africa, when he produced a masterful 143 not out in Australia’s first match.
“If I’m picking a team tomorrow in a Test match, one-dayer or a T20 he is in my team every day of the week.
“He would do anything if it meant saving one run or giving his mates a better chance of winning the game. You could say that about him every time he took the field.”
In Australia, Symonds spent 17 seasons with Queensland, as well as stints with Gloucestershire, Kent, Lancashire, and Surrey in the English County Championship and Deccan Chargers and Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League.
He went on to have a great career as a commentator after retiring.
“Andrew was a young teammate with a huge reputation,” said Healy, who was master of ceremony at Townsville’s Riverway Stadium for the public memorial.
“Supremely talented, a very hard worker,” he added. “But one who didn’t find first-class cricket immediately easy. So to see him ascend to the commentary box and then to master his analysis of broadcasting and cricket in general gave me a wonderful sense of pride.”
