Surrey boss Chris Adams insists signing the volatile Andrew Symonds for the Friends Provident t20 is a risk worth taking.
Surrey cricket manager delighted by Symonds deal
Surrey boss Chris Adams insists signing the volatile Andrew Symonds for the Friends Provident t20 is a risk worth taking.
The former Australia all-rounder's capture for the revamped Twenty20 tournament was announced on Wednesday, with Symonds set to make his debut against Gloucestershire at the Brit Oval on June 8.
The 34-year-old, who is currently competing for defending champions Deccan Chargers in the Indian Premier League, comes with a history of involvement in unsavoury incidents off the field, some of which include alcohol.
Problems
Australia's selectors finally reached boiling point during the build-up to last year's ICC World Twenty20 in England when another breach of the team's rules on alcohol and other problems appeared to indicate Symonds' international career had come to the end of the road.
Despite this, a phone call with Symonds was enough to convince Adams that the all-rounder could be the key to turning around Surrey's fading fortunes in the shortest form of the game.
"I've spoken to Andrew," said Adams. "I phoned him up about two months ago to get a sense of where he was within his life and his career.
"I guess I'm attracted to the broken souls, if you like, and people who find themselves in the scenario and situation that Andrew does because if we can provide an environment for him and a place for him to come back and almost repair and reinvent himself then again it's a win-win. We'll get the best out of him and he'll get the best out of us.
"Often people say 'we want people who will die for the county'. I want people who will come and live for the county and enjoy themselves.
"I'm pretty sure he's geared up better than most people to enjoy himself, that's for sure. He enjoys certain aspects of a decent lifestyle, but again it comes back to performance on the field. That's the thing I'm most interested in.
"If Andrew Symonds joins us and continues to perform like he has in India recently we'll be delighted."
Adams, embarking on his second year as professional cricket manager at the Oval, believes Symonds will bring a wealth of talent to the side.
Incredible
"In a Twenty20 situation, you'd like to think that Andrew Symonds would be walking to the wicket with about 10 overs to go, and would bring in his incredible power hitting," he said.
"If you add into that an incredible fielder and the ability to bowl both spin and seam, then you've got yourself a decent cricketer."
Adams is hoping Symonds will be joined by India leg-spinning all-rounder Piyush Chawla in the tournament, which allows sides to field two overseas players.
