Fishing with Andrew Symonds

He's a handy medium pacer…One of the biggest hitters in the game….and a kamikaze in the field…

And Andrew Symonds is not too shabby as a fisherman either.

The Aussie one day specialist has joined me on Botany Bay on a day off between games. And even out here, he makes all the right catches.

Andrew was born in England but grew up in Charters Towers in North Qld, where he began his cricketing career, and his fishing.

"I was always keen on fishing as a kid. I fished for sooty grunters in creeks, and perch. Great catching fish that pull hard."

A tough fighting kingfish is just what the doctor ordered…

Andrew loves this outdoor lifestyle and fishes up and down the East coast whenever he gets the chance.

But he almost gave it all up to live in England in the mid 90s, when the poms offered him a chance to play international cricket with the English A team.

"I was just a kid going over to play cricket - had to decide which country to play for and I did that. Right choice? It's an amazing feeling to walk on to the ground playing for Australia."

And it's paid off. In the last few years, this lanky right hander has made his mark as an all rounder in the one-day internationals…. He's often called in to stir the pot - and clock up a fast fifty.

"One day I'd love to play test cricket. Could be near or far, it's tough to break in. I'll go to the grave a happy man to give it my all, that's all you can do."

Right now, Andrew's happy to step up the run rate on the Kingies…

"Happy as larry… Won't matter if I get a duck tomorrow night!"

Andrew Symonds has already broken a world record for most sixes in a match, and the fastest fifty this summer… Now - he's honing in on my turf as well !!

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