HIGH-POWERED Cricket Australia board members will today be advised to stand down troubled allrounder Andrew Symonds from international cricket.
A meeting of CA board officials in Melbourne is expected to hear a recommendation from senior staff that Symonds be effectively barred from representing Australia in next month's South African tour.Top cricket officials have concerns about Symonds' psychological state and want to keep him on a rehabilitation program rather than expose him to the pitfalls of a hostile South African tour.
Symonds' woeful form is also an issue but it is concern over his state of mind - after his rambling, alcohol-fuelled radio outburst against Kiwi batsman Brendon McCullum - that is most pressing.
The Symonds issue, now an official item on the agenda for today's board meeting, will be hotly debated among the 14-member board chaired by Adelaide lawyer Jack Clarke.
Many of the board members still regret the lack of action taken against Symonds in England in 2005 when the Australian allrounder turned up intoxicated for a one-dayer against Bangladesh and was banned for two matches.
Board sources say the most likely course of action today is that Symonds will be stood down and there will be a fresh focus on his rehabilitation program, overseen by several psychologists.
"There will be talk about standing him down from international cricket," one board member confirmed to The Courier-Mail last night.
If the action is given the green light by the board, it is understood that the earliest Symonds could return to play for Australia would be the one-day series against Pakistan in April/May.
That series is almost certain not to go ahead as scheduled in strife-torn Pakistan, although it could be shifted to a neutral venue.
Skipper Ricky Ponting is a strong advocate for Symonds to play in South Africa as his depleted team desperately needs experienced henchmen for one of the most challenging tours in cricket.
But there is a prevailing view that Symonds, fresh from copping a $4000 fine for his radio rant, can only return when there is more evidence that he has dealt with the behavioural problems that have plagued him.
It is understood there is no giant push to rip up Symonds' contract after his latest dramas but today's board meeting will certainly signal a major crossroads in the allrounder's strife-torn career.
Last week, it was reported that Symonds was unlikely to tour South Africa as officials wanted to send him back into rehab.
Symonds has conceded he has alcohol and anger management issues.
Former Test captain Steve Waugh said choosing Symonds in South Africa would be a gamble.
"He's obviously grappling with a few issues," Waugh said.
"He certainly hasn't played his best since he came back."
February 02, 2009 11:00pm For the Courier mail.
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