Andrew Symonds , Former Australian cricketer  dies in car crash.

Andrew Symonds died in a car accident on Saturday

Tragic news surrounding the former Australia all-rounder and our thoughts are with his friends and family.
Police confirmed that Andrew Symonds was the only passenger in the accident, which occurred outside Townsville in his home state of Queensland.

  • Police confirmed that Andrew Symonds was the only passenger in the accident, which occurred outside Townsville in his home state of Queensland.
Former Australian cricketer and two-time World Cup winner Andrew Symonds died in a car crash on Saturday night.

  •  Police confirmed that the 46-year-old was the only passenger in the accident, which occurred outside Townsville in his home state of Queensland.

"Initial information indicates that shortly after 11pm the vehicle was traveling on Hervey Range Road, near the Alice River Bridge when it left the road and veered," the police statement confirmed.

  •  Emergency services tried to revive the 46-year-old driver and the only passenger, but he succumbed to his injuries.

“Forensic crash unit is investigating.”


 Symonds averaged 40.61 with bats from his 26 country Tests, but is perhaps best known for his exploits in whiteball cricket.
  • He featured in 198 ODIs—six centuries and 30 half century records—while also contributing 133 wickets with more than a manual and a medium speed.

It was at the 2003 World Cup that Symonds rose to the stage with perhaps his greatest role as he set Pakistan on fire with a 143 unbeaten win in Johannesburg early on in the tournament and helped Australia stay undefeated and defeat India in a one-sided final.

  •  The right-hander was also part of the World Cup winning team at the 2007 World Cup Finals in the West Indies as Australia claimed their fourth World Cup title in over 50 years.

 Symonds also played 14 T20I for Australia, managing 337 runs and eight wickets.

He was the third former Australian cricketer to tragically die in 2022 after leg champ Shane Warren died of a heart attack in Thailand in March. Former wicketkeeper Rod Marsh also died of a heart attack earlier this year.

 Former Australian captain Alan Border was among those who paid tribute to Symonds on Sunday.

 Border said Symonds "shot the ball a long way and just wanted to have fun."

 "He was, in a way, a fairly old-fashioned cricketer," Border told Nine Network. “He was adventurous, I love hunting, I love hiking and camping. People loved his very relaxed style.”


  • In 2008, Symonds missed Australia's one-day series against Bangladesh after going fishing when he was asked to attend a team meeting. He was also disciplined prior to the 2009 Twenty20 World Cup for breaching team rules around alcohol.

 With dreadlocks and his face covered in zinc cream, Symonds has always been a flamboyant figure on the Australian team.



John Buchanan pays tribute to Andrew Symonds as cricket greats share heartbreak

 

Colleagues, competitors and fans exchanged a wave of grief and love for Andrew Symonds after the cricket champion died in a car crash near Townsville on Saturday night.

 Former Australia coach John Buchanan told ABC News Breakfast that Symonds was a close friend whose ability to recover from mistakes was one of his most endearing traits.

 "(He was) someone I've always admired in terms of the way he pursued cricket, but also the principles he held dear," Buchanan said.

 "And at 46, it's definitely too early for someone like this to leave our world."

 Buchanan had a long relationship with Symonds, having overseen his appearances for the Queensland State teams before guiding him during his introduction to Test cricket.



"When I think of Roy, I see a young man full of life, always wanting to please, always wanting to entertain, a big packet of white zinc on his lip, a big, often floppy hat, later in his career," Buchanan said.

 “But also someone who enjoys an incredible sport, someone who can do things on cricket that very few can do. Someone who has really grown in his footballing life.

 “He's always been an incredible talent, from the time he stepped right onto the field in Gloucestershire when he was 19. But his real home was Australia, and that's where he wants to be. We first saw that talent when he played against England at Toowoomba in 1994.”

 Buchanan said Symonds was captain of the team, even if officially not.


"Roy was never perfect, that's for sure," he said, "and he never admitted that he was."

 “You know, he's made bad decisions, like all of us, at different stages of his life and different stages of his cricketing career.

 “But the one thing about Roy - and one of the things that I think made him likable to most people - is that even though he made a mistake, he would admit it publicly and try to correct it and take full responsibility for it.


 “So when he saw other people probably going down the same path, he was definitely one of the first people to come forward and try to put them in the right direction.

 "You know, I've always seen him as a captain in our team without a title. He was someone with strong leadership values ​​but he certainly didn't wear the captain's shirt, but he showed how the game should be played, how people should behave."

 Lara, Tendulkar sends messages of sadness
 Former teammates and competitors alike paid tribute to Symonds as soon as the news of his death came out.

 "If Roy shakes your hand, you have his say. That was the kind of guy he was and that's why I've always wanted to have him on my team," said former Australia Test captain Ricky Bunting.

 "An extraordinary player and a better human being. I can't believe he's gone. Ideas are with his family at this time."


West Indian greats Brian Lara said he and Symonds recently spent time at the Shane Warren memorial, and they texted each other the day before the crash.

 "We were just having a beer to celebrate Warney's life and enjoy each other's company," Lara said.

 “Our great friendship and respect for each other started the first minute we met in the fight. You were a competitor who would do anything and everything for your team.

 "You made friendship so easy, I loved the spontaneous phone calls and messages. I just called yesterday 'How are you champ', 'It's all good Mr. Symonds, how's it going with you'."

“Okay, it's not all good anymore, I'm going to miss you and I'm broken.

 "You were a hero and the cricket world will miss you. We have lost another great human being."

 Indian spinner Yosvendra Chahal, who was a teammate of Symonds at the Mumbai Indians in 2011, was struggling to come to terms with his death.

 "I lost my closest man today," he wrote on Twitter.


 "You weren't just a colleague. My family, my man, my uncle Symonds. I will miss you so badly."

 Indian great Sachin Tendulkar tweeted: “The death of Andrew Symonds is horrific news for all of us to digest.

 “He was not only an intelligent, multi-talented player, but also an expert on the field.

 "I have fond memories of the time we spent together at Indians in Mumbai. May his soul rest in peace, my condolences to his family and friends."

 Symonds' death comes shortly after the departure of Australian cricket legends Shane Warren and Rod Marsh.

Witnesses reveal details of the consequences

 New details of the accident emerged after Symonds' car left the road and rolled at Hervey Range, about 50 kilometers from Townsville.


 Waylon Townson tries to rescue Symonds after hearing the accident and rushes to the scene.
"He got stuck in there, so I tried to get him out," Mr. Townson told 9News.

 "[I] started CPR and checked his pulse but didn't get much response."

 Another witness said Symonds was traveling with his two dogs, who reportedly did not want to leave his side after the accident.

 "One of them was very sensitive and didn't want to let go," she said.

 "He would roar at you every time we tried to move him or get close to him."

 AAP / ABC