Symonds, the cuplrit

Unnamed sources tell me that Andrew Symonds might not get to play anymore in the ongoing VB Series for his criminal act yesterday at Brisbane. Graeme Smith had just been dismissed by McGrath. So there was some pressure on South Africa's batsmen as they chased 229. Dippenaar pushed the ball towards Symonds at cover and set off for a quick single. The new batsman and non-striker was our friend with a very good looking wife. He had just then come to the centre and had faced just one ball, and was yet to get off the mark. Kallis responded for the single and was just half-way through when Symonds reached the ball and he had all the options on earth - to fumble the pickup, to throw it towards square leg, to hit direct at the bowler's end where Dippenaar was running towards and to miss the direct hit at the batting end. But Symonds refused to do all these and channelling his talent admirably, hit the stumps at the batting end thereby forcing Kallis to get back for a duck.

Though the Australian team got into a huddle immediately after this, 'inside sources' reveal that Symonds received a pounding from Lee & Hussey who were greatly responsible for the respectable total of 228 after being 71 for 6. If Symonds had decided to use any other option, Kallis would have ensured that he batted a major portion of the remaining overs and also make sure that South Africa didn't get past 228, in much the same manner as he batted recently, in the test against Australia and late last year in the final one-dayer against India.

After this, Boucher and Kemp with some lusty hitting towards the end reached the target and Symonds got further bad treatment, this time from Kallis himself for not letting him win the match for Australia as Pollock was named man of the match.

Symonds may be let off with a reprimand as he was the real man of the match in Australia's 116-run victory over Sri Lanka two days back.