Cricket legend Mark Taylor, a resident of Channel Nine, was one of the first to be called by the network when a big news event happened at a game.
That means moving forward for TV appearances when Rod Marsh and Shane Warne died consecutively in March, and then again on Sunday morning, exactly two months later, when news of Andrew Symonds’ death first broke.
Taylor was particularly close to Warne, sharing the Australian team’s dressing room with the legendary leg-spinner for almost a decade, so it was particularly difficult to reflect on his death so soon after such a shock situation occurred.
Read more: Cricket legend Andrew Symonds has died at the age of 46
Gallery: Pictured is the cricket life of Andrew Symonds
However, when asked about his reaction to Symonds’ death by Charles Cruutcher on Sunday morning at Nine Weekend Today, he was in disbelief.
“Unfortunately I’ve been here a lot this year. Honestly, I can’t really believe it. Another sad day for cricket,” Taylor said.
Putting that reflection aside, Taylor created an extraordinary handful of what the Symonds meant to the Australian public, as one of our most entertaining cricketers, and in many ways a throwback to the 70s with his lurking personality.
Former Australian Test cricketer Andrew Symonds has died at the age of 46
“He was an entertainer with the bat, and he was an influential man. He was a big boy. I believe he was a very good rugby league player even as a kid,” Taylor said.
“He just wanted to entertain. In a way, he was an old-fashioned cricketer, not out of place in the 70’s or 80’s.”
Describing one of his most valuable contributions to Australia, Taylor said Symonds’ century against Pakistan in the 2003 World Cup was an important factor because he stood up when his country really needed him.
In that match Symonds came to the crease with Australia in 4/86, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Damien Martin and Jimmy Maher are already back in the sheds.
Captain Ricky Ponting will soon drop to 53, leaving Symonds to face a formidable bowling attack with Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar.
He did so in extraordinary fashion, leading Australia to a total of 8/310 with an unbeaten 143 in just 125 deliveries. Which set up a massive victory on the way to the glory of the World Cup.
Symonds show great catching ability
Taylor described Symonds’ debut Test century against England at the MCG in the 2006-07 Ashes series as “probably his defining moment”.
Symonds was at the crease with his great partner Matthew Hayden when he celebrated the milestone, holding the great opening batsman in his arms so tightly that his helmet almost opened. In the usual Symonds style, he picked up his century with a six.
“The century he got at MCG was probably his defining moment, because he was there with his partner Mattie Hayden,” Taylor said.
“It was a great moment because that passion was there. He wasn’t really considered a Test cricketer, everyone identified him as a white ball player, but he wanted to prove to the world that he was a Test cricketer, and he did.” Days. “
When he was doing everything at 100 miles per hour on the field, Symonds was the lonely person who enjoyed life the most when he was away from civilization, in the bushes.
Symonds’ famous 2008 striker incident
“He was an adventurer. He loved fishing, he loved hiking, he loved camping. He and Matthew Hayden were good friends, they loved fishing together. They went to Stradbroke Island … and fished together,” Taylor said. Said. . “I took Simmo here one day to fish in Sydney Harbor. It was just nice to see him throw a flyer around the boat.”
“Simo away from cricket and away from the camera, I think he liked his loneliness, and that’s why he loved fishing. He loved his own time.”
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