Watson: You felt bulletproof when you played with Symonds
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20 Apr 25
Former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson has spoken glowingly of Andrew Symonds and declared the late Queenslander the greatest teammate he ever had.
Speaking with Isa Guha on the latest episode of The ICC Review, Watson recalled many fond memories the pair had shared on and off the field prior to the late all-rounder's shock death in Queensland at the age of 46 last month.
Watson said Symonds made all his teammates stand tall on the cricket field and he was often the glue that helped keep the side and its many different characters intact off the field.
"You felt bulletproof when you played in the same team as Andrew Symonds," Watson said on the most recent episode of The ICC Review. Having him at point and just knowing he always had your back no matter what. And to bat with him was something very special.
"It is shattering to think he is not with us anymore. I look back at old footage I have seen over the last couple of weeks and (shaking head) he was so good, just so incredibly good. And to go with it one of the best teammates you could ever have."
Symonds' untimely passing comes on the back of the death of two Australian cricketing greats earlier this year, with legendary leg-spinner Shane Warne and champion wicketkeeper Rod Marsh also passing away in unfortunate circumstances.
Watson and Guha shook their heads in dismay at the poor few months that Australian cricket has endured, and hoped that the cricketing community around the world would come together once again following the loss of Symonds.
"His poor two kids, such beautiful kids and they adored their dad as well,” Watson said. "We need to make sure we rally around his family as much as we can, as I know he would do that for us.”
Guha echoed Watson’s sentiments. "Just thinking of his friends and his family and his beautiful kids as well … I am sure everyone will be there to support," Guha said.
"Not just the Australian cricketing community, but also the wider community around the world."
Watson said there weren’t many players born with the same ability as Symonds and even compared the burly all-rounder to West Indies great Sir Vivian Richards.
"He was very much Viv Richards reincarnated in the way he played," Watson noted. "Even before I played against him you always heard about this big, powerful, six-hitting batter who could do everything and who was an amazing athlete.
"His ability to bowl spin and medium pace, he was one of the best fielders to ever play. His all-around ability was something we haven’t seen much of and won’t see much of again."
Asked for one standout memory of Symonds' ability, Watson recalled a domestic Sheffield Shield match the pair played together for Queensland against Western Australia at the WACA Ground in Perth, where Symonds got on top of experienced left-arm spinner Brad Hogg.
