Finally, some support for Symonds

Ever since Andrew Symonds took a fishing trip out of the Australian team, he has been the talk of the Australian cricketing establishment...

Ever since Andrew Symonds took a fishing trip out of the Australian team, he has been the talk of the Australian cricketing establishment, and most voices haven8217;t been flattering.

But finally, there8217;s some support for the Aussie all-rounder, from Ashley Noffke, who has been Symonds8217;s team mate at Queensland for almost a decade.

8220;I think people are reading too much, his issue is over now and it8217;s better to leave him Symonds alone so that he makes his comeback soon,8221; Noffke told The Indian Express.

8220;We are still in touch through messages and he keeps asking for updates on our performances on this tour. He is a good person and I think people misread him. As a friend, we keep motivating him. You can8217;t dissociate yourself with a friend who is going through a tough phase in life. He needs our help,8221; he said. 8220;Only those who know Symonds understand him.8221;

Rohit Sharma, who has played with Symonds during the Indian Premier League for Hyderabad8217;s Deccan Chargers, also defended the Australian cricketer.

8220;Don8217;t spoil his reputation, he is a fine person,8221; Sharma said when asked about his experience in the dressing room during the IPL.

8220;Despite being of such big stature, he never had an attitude problem. He was the first foreign cricketer I interacted with and he was very helpful,8221; he said.

Australia A crumble against Kiwis

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Meanwhile, Mark Gillespie and Jeetan Patel combined to destroy the Australia A line-up as New Zealand A thumped their Australian counterparts by 129 runs in the first match of the A Team Tri-Series.

Opting to bat first, the Kiwis scored 235 for nine in 50 overs with meaty contributions from Peter Fulton 75, Martin Guptill 33 and Neil Broom 30.

Defending the total, Gillespie 3-37 and Patel 4-16 ran through the Australian batting order with only Cameron White 42 and Luke Ronchi 27 getting to double digits.

The Australian side folded up for just 106 in 26.1 overs.

Chasing a moderate total, the Australia A reply got off to a disastrous start with Gillespie removing Hughes off the fifth delivery of the innings and scalping David Hussey for a duck in his next over.

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Ronchi and White tried to stem the rot but once Gillespie trapped Ronchi in the seventh over, the Australians suffered a batting collapse.

In all, as many as five Australian batsmen 8212; half their batting order 8212; had ducks against their names and their reply ended in the first delivery of the 27th over when Jeetan Patel had Peter Siddle stumped.

Brief scores

New Zealand A 235 for 9 in 50 overs P Fulton 75, M Guptill 33; X Doherty 4/34 beat Australia A 106 all out in 26.1 overs C White 42; M Gillespie 3/37, J Patel 4/16 by 129 runs