Former Australia cricketer Andrew Symonds has died aged 46 after being involved in a car crash.
The all-rounder played 26 Tests, 198 one-day internationals and 14 Twenty20s for Australia between 1998 and 2009.
A powerful batter, canny bowler and fine fielder, Symonds was part of two 50-over World Cup wins and Australia’s Ashes victory over England in 2006-07.
Queensland police said early information indicated Symonds’ car “left the roadway and rolled”.
A statement added: “Emergency services attempted to revive the 46-year-old driver and sole occupant, however, he died of his injuries.
“The forensic crash unit is investigating.”
Symonds’ wife Laura told the Brisbane Courier Mail: “We are still in shock – I’m just thinking of the two kids.”
Cricket Australia said it was “shocked and saddened by the news”.
Born in Birmingham but raised in Australia, Symonds played county cricket in the UK for Gloucestershire, Kent, Lancashire and Surrey.
He also played for Queensland for 17 seasons, and for Deccan Chargers and Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League.
Symonds’ exploits with Gloucestershire, who he had initially represented as a domestic player, earned him a call-up for an England A tour in 1995 – but he declined the offer and chose to pursue his ambitions to play for Australia, making his ODI debut three years later.
He had jointly held the record for most sixes hit in a County Championship innings – he hit 16 in a knock for Gloucestershire against Glamorgan in 1995 – until Ben Stokes bettered his total last week.
His passing is another significant loss for Australian cricket, following the deaths of former wicketkeeper Rod Marsh and legendary leg-spinner Shane Warne earlier this year.
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