Symonds make surprise return to Queensland

Sydney, Nov 13 : Controversial all-rounder Andrew Symonds will make a surprise return for the Queensland in their Ford Ranger Cup one-day match against South Australia tomorrow.

Queensland, who have a massive injury toll, called Symonds in the squad to turn out against the Redbacks in a one-dayer in Alice Springs.

The 34-year-old right-handed batsman has replaced paceman Chris Swan, who was suffering with a groin injury, in the Bulls squad and was due to travel from Adelaide to the Northern Territory with the team today.

The Bulls are also missing Australian all-rounder James Hopes, nusing a hamstring injury and senior quick Ryan Harris (foot).

Queensland have also been hit by a knee injury to Glen Batticciotto who has been forced to undergo arthroscopic surgery.

Symonds will feature despite not even having played club cricket. In fact, his main source of fitness has been pre-season training sessions with the Brisbane Broncos.

Queensland coach Trevor Barsby stressed Symonds' call-up was likely to be a ''one-off'' with the former Australian all-rounder set to be dumped as soon as one-day players like James Hopes and Ben Laughlin return from injury. He is not even likely to be considered for the Bulls' tour game against the West Indies at Allan Border Field next week.

''It's not a televised game and the less publicity we make of it, the better,'' Barsby was cqouted as saying by The Daily Telegraph.

''With all of our injuries it got to a stage where we decided to get an experienced player.'' ''He hasn't been training with us but has come off the Indian Premier League and he was doing a lot of fitness work with the Broncos,'' he added.

Symonds is contracted as a Twenty20 player for the Bulls but had indicated he was prepared to play one-day or Sheffield Shield cricket if there was a spate of injuries.

''Roy said he was keen to help out wherever possible so we gave him a call and he said he was available for selection,'' Barsby said.

''We looked at other options but it kept coming back to him.

''At this stage it is pretty much a short-term fix, he is not keen to play four-day cricket,'' he added.

However, Cricket Australia, who tore up Symonds' contract after his latest disciplinary stuff-up in England this year, said they had no issue with the all-rounder playing for Queensland.

--UNI

(c) 2009 Published with permission from United News of India.
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