Symonds in horns of IPL-baggy green dilemma

The troubled cricketer, banned from touring South Africa after his latest disciplinary dramas, will be available for Australian selection again at the time the IPL is about to start in April.

Symonds will be 34 this year and, at best, may have 18 months of international cricket ahead of him considering his troublesome knee is causing him increasing problems, reports The Australian.

Friends say it would hardly be the shock of the century if he chose 1.5 million dollars for six weeks' work in the IPL ahead of playing for an Australian outfit that currently doesn't want him.

Symonds' IPL franchise - the Deccan Chargers – came in last in the 2008 competition and would be delighted to have the all-rounder for as long as possible.

However Symonds' manager Matt Fearon claims that Symonds is giving indications that he wants to play for Australia again.

"From every indication and the brief conversation I have had with him, he is committed to cricket and the process he is going through at the moment. He has made it very clear his first love is playing cricket for Australia but schedule permitting... I am sure he would enjoy any time he gets in the IPL,” Fearon was quoted, as saying.

"He feels ready to play cricket but understands that that will not currently come about (for Australia)," he added.

With Symonds ordered back into a counselling and rehabilitation program overseen by a team of psychologists, Test skipper Ricky Ponting hopes he can again be seen in Australian colours.

But Ponting yesterday endorsed the decision by the Cricket Australia board to stand Symonds down from international cricket - and claimed the all-rounder now had to make his own decisions for the future.

"I can totally understand the decision that's been made. It wasn't a decision for the team, it was Cricket Australia along with his counsellors that basically came to that decision. As we know, with his counselling, it's a work in progress. It's all down to him now. He's got to work out for himself whether it's really what he wants to do," Ponting said.

Source: ANI