Symonds denied triumphant return as storms steal his thunder

THUNDERSTORMS denied Andrew Symonds a triumphant return to Birmingham last night after he delivered his third successive masterful display in the day-night international against England.

Born locally but raised in Australia, Symonds’ one-day series was in doubt after he broke curfew the night before their embarrassing defeat to Bangladesh in their opening match of the NatWest Series.

Instead of sending him home, Cricket Australia elected to fine him and implement a two-match ban and Symonds has been repaying that reprieve ever since with successive man-of-the-match awards in their last two victories.