Andrew Symonds Thrown Out of Australia's World Twenty20 Squad

Australia's World Twenty20 plans were thrown into disarray when their all-rounder Andrew Symonds was sent home on the eve of the tournament for "breaking a number of team rules related to alcohol and other issues" only a week after arriving in England. A tempestuous 11-year international career is surely over.

Such was the frustration at Symonds' latest misdemeanors that press conferences were held in quick succession in Melbourne by Cricket Australia's chief executive, James Sutherland, and in London by the Australia captain, Ricky Ponting, in an attempt to deal swiftly with the affair before the team's opening game against West Indies on Saturday. Cameron White will replace Symonds in Australia's squad.

Sutherland described his behavior as "the final straw", although Symonds, 34 next week, may choose to retire before Cricket Australia inevitably declines to renew his central contract at the end of this month. Ponting, meanwhile, was scathing about a player he has publicly backed in the past despite a string of adverse and often alcohol-related headlines.

"I don't think Cricket Australia could have done any more for him," Ponting said. "He's been stood down on a number of occasions and he has been working through some processes off the field over the last 12-18 months to make himself better in different aspects of his life. He has had plenty of opportunity, that's for sure. James Sutherland made it pretty clear it was an alcohol-related incident. We're talking about commitments he made to himself and the team, so as much as anything he has let himself down, his team-mates, and he's let Cricket Australia down."

Speculation immediately centered on what exactly Symonds had done to be ordered home ahead of a tournament in which his all-round skills were expected to play a central part. Whispers of general surliness will not have helped, although it is thought he was part of a small group of Australian players who watched the State of Origin rugby league game on TV in a bar from 11.30am yesterday before heading to a dinner for the Professional Cricketers' Association benevolent fund last night, when his behavior was described by one guest as "obnoxious".

Symonds was then confronted in the morning by Ponting on behalf of the team's four-man leadership group and was told they had recommended to the Australian board that he be sent home immediately. For a man who recently topped the batting averages for the Indian Premier League winners Deccan Chargers, earning around £400,000 in the process, it looks like an unpleasantly swift reversal of fortunes.

Symonds' troubles

June 2005

Banned for two matches after turning up drunk to a one-day international against Bangladesh in Cardiff during the run-up to the Ashes series. Australia, astonishingly, lost the match and went on to lose the Ashes.

January 2008

Became embroiled in a race row after he was subjected to alleged "monkey" taunts from India's Harbhajan Singh in a Test at the SCG. Harbhajan was initially handed a three-game ban but the suspension was revoked on appeal.

March 2008

Shoulder-charged a male streaker who had run on to the pitch during a one-day international against India but did not face assault charges.

August 2008

Went fishing in Darwin instead of attending a team meeting and was sent home to Queensland before the one-day series with Bangladesh. Stand-in captain Michael Clarke questioned Symonds' commitment. He was duly left out of the team to tour India in October.

November 2008

Was selected to play the Test series against New Zealand. He did not play any significant role in the first Test which Australia won. However, after the end of the Test, on 22 November, he was involved in an incident in a bar in Brisbane. Symonds said he was provoked by a member of the public which led to an altercation and the man being removed by security staff. He was cleared by Cricket Australia to play in the following Test in Adelaide on 26 November.

January 2009

Called New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman Brendon McCullum a "lump of shit" during an interview on a radio show with the Australian comedy duo Roy and HG. Symonds was referring to McCullum's signing for New South Wales to play in a domestic Twenty20 final when he made the comment. He was reportedly drunk at the time. He publicly apologized but was charged by Cricket Australia with violating the code of conduct and was fined. Cricket Australia then blocked Symonds' selection for the tour to South Africa. He was told to seek counseling to prove his commitment to the team before he would be considered for selection again. Fortnightly reports were sent to Cricket Australia about his progress.

June 2009

Left out of the Ashes squad, Symonds was nevertheless given a chance in the ICC World Twenty20 and was expected to feature in Australia's one-day side later in the summer. Instead he was sent home before the World Twenty20 began for another "alcohol-related issue".