Melbourne, Thursday 4 June 2009: Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds is being sent home from the Twenty20 World Cup in England for breaching team rules relating to alcohol.

Symonds is a key player in Australia’s limited-overs lineup.

He has a history of off-field problems dating back to Australia’s last tour to England in 2005, when he was punished after a late night drinking session on the eve of a match.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting has called a news conference at the Oval at 1200 GMT to discuss the matter.

Australia are due to play West Indies on Saturday in their opening match of the Twenty20 World Cup.

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland confirmed Symonds’ latest breach of the team rules was alcohol related and that his contract was subject to review.

“In isolation the breaches that I am talking about are not serious, but in the scheme of things, in the scheme of history, they are enough for it to be the final straw,” Sutherland told reporters in Melbourne.

The incidents were the five-Test Ashes series in England which follows the T20 World Cup.

He has not played a Test match for Australia since December, but returned to the ODI set up in a series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates and played an important role in Deccan Chargers’ win in the Indian Premier League in South Africa.
(Agency)