Symonds is ready to return for Australia, says board chief

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland has said that all-rounder Andrew Symonds is ready for a comeback to the national squad.

Brisbane, Oct.8 : Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland has said that all-rounder Andrew Symonds is ready for a comeback to the national squad.

Addressing a Queensland Bulls corporate season launch at the Gabba on Wednesday, Sutherland said that he has had a couple of chats with Symonds and believes that the all-rounder is working towards coming back.

"He wants nothing more than to be playing for the Australian cricket team, and that's a pretty good step. He knows talk is cheap, it's actions that count. I'm confident after talking to him and others in the Bulls camp about how he is applying himself (that) he won't be too far away," Fox Sports quoted Sutherland, as saying.

Outside the luncheon, Sutherland said that he would not rule out Symonds playing for Australia in the first Test against New Zealand in Brisbane from November 20.

"I don't think anything is impossible. He is in great shape. He said publicly that he knows he wants to get back to playing cricket for Australia, and is working hard towards that," Sutherland said.

"The senior group that made the recommendation in terms of standing him down had some concerns that could be summarised as ... wanting a committed Andrew Symonds to be a part of the Australian cricket team. That is what we are all working towards."

But Sutherland stressed there was no deadline for Symonds'a return.

"There is no point in putting timelines or expectations around that," he said.

"I think Andrew has quite rightly been careful not to build any expectations. From his point of view, there are things that he wants to work on and he is doing that. We are all on the same page in terms of wanting to see Andrew back playing for Australia," he added.

Symonds will have three Sheffield Shield matches to press his first Test claims, starting with their opener against Tasmania at the Gabba from Friday.

ANI