Symonds vows to improve behaviour

All-rounder Andrew Symonds has vowed to learn from past mistakes and regain his place in the Australia team after being dropped for disciplinary reason.

The 33-year-old has not been selected for next month's tour of India after missing a compulsory team meeting in August to go fishing.

Symonds said: "I apologise for some of the things I've done.

"Hopefully, I'll come out of it a better person and not make those mistakes in the future."

Symonds, who was sent home from the recent one-day series against Bangladesh, which Australia won 3-0, for the indiscretion, added: "I'm going through the process of trying to improve and become not only a better cricketer but a better person.

"We all know, a fit and fully-committed Andrew Symonds can be a world beater"
Andrew Hilditch

"I'm looking forward to the challenge of taking up cricket again for my club, state and country.

"I'm in a position of responsibility, I can't live irresponsibly. I've realised that and it's probably taken me longer than it should have."

Symonds has previously courted controversy over his behaviour and in 2005 was left out of a one-day match against Bangladesh after arriving for the game under the influence of alcohol.

Chief selector Andrew Hilditch said Symonds would be considered for selection once he had proved his commitment to the national team.

He said: "Andrew is now going through a process managed by Cricket Australia designed to give him time to assess whether he is fully committed to all of the things needed for a cricketer to be a member of the world's number one team.

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"Cricket Australia has told us that selectors will be advised once Andrew can be considered again for selection and we hope we can look forward to that advice in due course because as we all know, a fit and fully-committed Andrew Symonds can be a world beater.

"In the meantime, our advice was that he was not available to be considered for selection this time."

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