CA ensures no work, all pay for Symonds

CA spokesman Peter Young confirmed Symonds would receive his full wage during his time out of the game, proof that the board will not abandon him. 8220;He8217;s a contracted player and because he8217;s going through a rehabilitation programme, he will get full retainer payment. We8217;re treating this the same as if a player was injured,8221; Young said.

Symonds8217; contract with CA is worth an estimated 500,000. He is also entitled to full payments for the India series as he was a member of the most recent Test side. Australian players are paid 17,850 for a Test abroad. With four Tests to be played in India, Symonds will receive 71,400. Factoring in CA8217;s monthly payments, Symonds stands to earn about 196,400 in total.

Be positive, Hussey tells mates

meanwhile, Mike Hussey wants his colleagues to stay positive for the four-Test series. Hussey has been consistent in the series against Bangladesh but the left-hander believes playing India in their backyard would be a tough test. The key, he says, would be to maintain a positive intent and not get bogged down by the Indian spinners.

8220;The team that won in 8217;04, they said that was probably their Everest. I don8217;t think that8217;s changing. India are up there in the top two or three teams in the world and I think it8217;s going to be a wonderful series. It8217;s probably the hardest place to win in international cricket,8221; Hussey said.

The left-hander says he has worked out a plan which, he hopes, would be enough to negate Kumble and Co. 8220;You need to be able to tick it over, need to be able to score and put the pressure back on them. It8217;s important to be positive, you8217;ve got to know where you can get off strike. If they8217;re just bowling ball after ball at you and you8217;re looking to survive, they8217;re going to get you out, there8217;s no question.8221;

Warne8217;s tips for the Aussies

Retired spin legend Shane Warne is doing his bit to ensure the Australians come out with flying colours against Anil Kumble8217;s men in the Test series next month.

Australia vice-captain Michael Clarke revealed he is taking lessons from Warne to combat spinner-friendly tracks in India. 8220;I spent four days with Warnie and did a lot of talking and going through field placements for my type of bowling, which I found really helpful,8221; said Clarke, hoping to repeat his performance in India when he took 6-9 in Mumbai in 2004.

8220;I will be on phone with him continuously,8221; Clarke was quoted by The Age. 8220;My back has been really good, I certainly don8217;t see that as a problem. Now when I get home, I8217;ll do some more work,8221; said the stand-in ODI skipper, who had a lean series with the bat. I think batting8217;s my priority,8221; he said.

8220;I have always been serious about my bowling8230; I do believe I am a part-time bowler and I8217;m not going to try and be a front-line bowler but as I said, I think there is a role for me to play over there.8221;

Australia8217;s relative inexperience in the spin department 8212; Beau Casson, Bryce McGain and Jason Krejza are currently touring with the A team 8212; means Clarke might be forced to shoulder more bowling responsibility.