Tributes poured in after Andrew Symonds, one of Australia’s greatest all-rounders, tragically passed away in a car crash at the age of 46 in Queensland.

Symonds, who made his international debut in 1998, played a pivotal part during Australia’s twin Cricket World Cup successes in 2003 and 2007. In the 2003 iteration, the all-rounder announced himself on the world stage with a terrific ton against Pakistan in Australia’s opening encounter. He averaged 103.00 in Cricket World Cups.

A hard-hitting middle order batter who could also bowl medium pace and spin, Symonds was a terrific fielder and ticked every box in limited-overs cricket. He ended his ODI career scoring 5,088 runs at an average just under 40 with a strike-rate of 92.44.

Symonds was one of the early stars of the T20 format, with his 34-ball hundred for Kent against Middlesex in the 2004 T20 Cup still the fourth-fastest in the format’s history. In 14 T20Is, he mustered 337 runs at an average of 48.14 and an astonishing strike-rate of 169.34. During the inaugural IPL auction, he was sold for the second-highest price – only behind MS Dhoni.

While white-ball cricket witnessed Symonds’ most famous moments, first-class cricket also saw his destructive talents. In 1995, he broke the record for most sixes in a first-class innings while playing for Gloucestershire against Glamorgan. He was 20 years old at the time, and ended the season with 1,438 runs at an average of 55.30. Symonds averaged over 40 in his 26 Tests, with a century in the 2006 Boxing Day Ashes Test, and a career-best 162* against India at Sydney in 2008 in a Player of the Match performance.

His death sent the cricketing world into shock, with several of his teammates and opponents posting heartfelt tributes to one of the true greats of Australian cricket.

 

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