Symonds' loyalty put to test
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Gloucestershire are trying to persuade their young batting talent Andrew Symonds to turn down an invitation to play for Australia A against the touring West Indies in Melbourne on Friday.
If the 21-year-old Anglo-Australian, named in a 12-strong squad, accepts the offer, it would effectively end his career at the county and would also make him ineligible to play for England.
The Gloucestershire chief executive Philip August explained: "As I see it, and as the Test and County Cricket Board sees it, it will break his qualification to play for us as an English-based player.
"This means he won't be able to play for us next season because our one overseas player that we are allowed is Courtney Walsh, who happens to be the club's captain, so we couldn't really dump him."
Symonds, born in Birmingham but raised in Australia, where he was a member of the Australian Cricket Academy, will come under pressure to reject the overtures of the country to which he emigrated when just 18 months old. August, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, said: "We are, in a decent sort of way, trying to persuade him not to play for Australia A.
"Courtney Walsh will be playing tomorrow for the West Indies against the Australian Prime Minister's XI in Canberra and will be talking to Andrew on our behalf and explaining the benefits of staying within the English county system and playing for Gloucestershire.
"The ball is firmly in Andrew's court. If he accepts the invitation to play for Australia A, the interpretation is that it breaks his qualification and therefore we would not be able to play him next year."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments