Symonds enters "the final chapter" of career

Symonds entering 'final chapter' of career

Cricinfo staff

January 22, 2009




Andrew Symonds has said retirement is not on his immediate radar but he does believe he is entering the "final chapter" of his cricket career. Symonds, 33, is likely to line up for Queensland next week as he returns following knee surgery, if his comeback for his club side on the weekend goes to plan.

He will be preparing for February's tour of South Africa, where he will be without his great mate Matthew Hayden, who retired following the home Test series. Symonds took a trip to Hayden's holiday house on Stradbroke Island to see how his friend was handling retirement.

"I went over to Straddie and saw him a couple of days ago, he's very relaxed," Symonds told AAP. However, Symonds said Hayden's situation had not yet sparked retirement thoughts of his own.

"The day that I am worn out either physically or mentally I will just say 'that will do me'," he said. "I haven't put a time limit as to when I finish playing. Hopefully I can go on my terms rather than injury or lack of form. There's only so many tokens left. Hopefully I can use them effectively and have a good end to my career."

The finish looked like it might have been forced upon him after his fishing trip in Darwin in August, when he was stood down from the national squad. He missed the tour of India but returned for the home summer and he is aiming to now look forward rather than back.

"Hopefully I can leave the past behind me, we can make this a new chapter," Symonds said. "I feel like this is the final chapter of my cricketing career coming up so hopefully I can play some good cricket, finish well and look back on my career which has been interesting but also very enjoyable."

http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/australia/content/current/story/387389.html

He's had so many new chapters he's like a crime thriller gone wrong.

Is his career a pop-up book?

"There's only so many tokens left."


Gold.

Yeah I noticed that.

Hall of fame quote. Or something.

His test days may be over.

Surely his final chapter is a couple of seasons of IPL after he retires from proper cricket

Nah, that would be Un-Australian of him, surely.....

more importantly, he's supposedly shedding the dreadies next month

confirmed...heard an interview with him this am...he is doing the shave for the cure thing

He wants to be out of the country when he's bald. He seems very confident that he'll get a gig on the SA tour.

I think the goat will also be saffie bound

I'm sure that 8 weeks IPL for a million dollars a year, followed by 44 weeks fishing, is starting to look like a good option for him.

The final chapter of his Aus career could be written tomorrow.

Linky link...

He's been charged and faces a hearing Thursday.

I've heard conflicting reports. Fairfax papers are saying that he'll be let off with a warning and possibly a fine, but will tour South Africa. News ltd on the other hand, are reporting that he could have his contract torn up. Who is right?

Given that Fairfax is inevitable conservative in its views, and News Ltd print the Sydney and Melbourne Small Papers For Stoopid People, they're both being predictable.

As for right? Hard to say.

The man's clearly a train wreck.

Maybe it's time to cut our losses, accept the fact that we will be sh!t for a while, but start the rebuilding now.

skully wrote:Maybe it's time to cut our losses, accept the fact that we now suck, and will be sh!t for a while, but start the rebuilding now.

Fixed.

Potato-potarto.