Andrew Symonds sent home because of "booze" incident

Andrew Symonds, it is generally agreed, is one of the best all-round cricketers in the world. In the Indian super league he has demonstrated he is also one of the best 20/20 performers. He has had his problems in the past some of which deserved severe censure. The signs have been, reading between the lines of the usual hysterical sports reporting, that he has made efforts to overcome those problems. And, as far as I can gather from those same reports, the incidents of recidivism have been minor.

But that obviously will never stop the club of sports writers from colourfully blowing each relapse, detected by 24/7 surveillance, way out of proportion. The truth is that once sports writers focus on an individual, proportion in justice goes way out the window. Of course, they take their lead in this from their pals in the social and political field. The difference is, as I have just pointed out, there appears little restraint or supervision over the sports columns.

Now Symonds is on his way home from the UK on the eve of the 20/20 world cup. The report in The Australian is not explicit about the "boozing:" breach:

Cricket Australia refused to reveal details of the fallen star's offence, but it is understood he went out on Wednesday morning to watch the rugby league State of Origin match with some team-mates and had a couple of drinks.

He has been told by Cricket Australia that a new contract due to come into place on June 30 will be withheld and it seems almost certain his Australia career is over after Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said last night this was "the last straw.

The last straw? Surely the last straw had to be a deed far more horrible than a few drinks while watching one of the biggest sporting fixtures on Australia's sporting program?

Ricky Ponting, having been badly wounded at the hands of the puffed-up bunch who call themselves sports writers, was understandably restrained and diplomatic about Symonds' demise. Among other things, he said:

We are all a little bit disappointed with the events of the last 24 hours to tell the truth. On the eve of a very big tournament for us, losing one of our better players and one of the better performed Twenty20 players in the world right now is far from ideal, but we have to move on from it as quickly as possible...

It appears to me that the notion of proportion in justice has gone from today's commentary of sporting people and events, and all is left to the self-glorification of those who can come up with the best composition.

Certainly, if the sort of media justice were applied to Ian Chappell's team of thirty years back, none of them would ever have got on to an English pitch within hours of their putting their foot on English soil. Shall I remind people of the contest to see which cricketer could down the most tinnies on the trip to London? That then was - and still is - the stuff of legends.

Oh the hypocrisy of media people pointing an accusing finger at someone for boozing and larrikin behaviour! I am constantly reminded, as I have said before, of the Seinfeld episode where George Costanza barged his way through the children at a kids' party to get out of the unit that was on fire. "How do you live with yourself?" asked a fireman later. George in a devastating moment of self-reflection said, "It's not easy."

Comment: gerard@gerardcharleswilson.com