Two iconic figures of Australian cricket, the late great Andrew Symonds and Michael Clarke, forged a deep friendship during their shared time in the Australian cricket squad. Clarke’s ascension to the role of Australia’s captain was marked by numerous remarkable victories under his leadership.
However then came a period which coincided with Andrew Symonds nearing the conclusion of his illustrious career, during which his relationship with Clarke experienced a noticeable decline.
This shift occurred subsequent to an incident where the then acting captain, Clarke, made the decision to exclude Symonds from the team due to his absence from a crucial team meeting.
Tensions between the pair reached a boiling point, resulting in a notable incident in 2015 when Symonds openly critiqued Clarke’s approach to leadership. In response, Clarke made a claim that Symonds had been under the influence of alcohol prior to participating in a One-Day International (ODI) series back in 2008.
Before he shocking passed away, he spoke on The Brett Lee Podcast, where Symonds revealed that his relationship with Clarke soured following his status as the highest-priced foreign player during the inaugural 2008 Indian Premier League, marking the beginning of the lucrative T20 tournament.
“Matthew Hayden actually mentioned something interesting to me. When the IPL kicked off and I received a substantial amount to participate, he pointed out that jealousy might have crept into the equation with Clarke,” said Symonds on the podcast.
“Money has its quirks; it’s a positive thing, but it can also have negative effects. It’s possible that it had a detrimental impact on our relationship. Out of respect for him, I prefer not to delve into the specifics of what transpired,” Symonds further said.
Symonds showcased his stellar skills as a standout player for both the Deccan Chargers and the Mumbai Indians in the IPL. In contrast, Michael Clarke’s IPL career comprised just a solitary season, during which he represented the Pune Warriors India (PWI).
Notably, Symonds’ exceptional talent secured him a staggering contract worth USD 1.35 million with the Deccan Chargers during the inaugural IPL season in 2008, as reported. Unfortunately, the player passed away at a very young age in 2022 which left everyone shocked and surprised, including Michael Clarke himself.
