Simple Symonds? Well, evidently not so

New Delhi: The one big thing that everyone seems to have missed out in this whole Harbhajan Singh saga is the role played by Andrew Symonds. If the transcripts of Justice John Hansen’s ruling are anything to go by, it was by and large a scenario where he emerges the real villain.

It becomes perfectly clear from Justice Hansen’s observations that Symonds began the whole thing. The joke is that he is the one who is trying to play victim.

“It is apparent that while there was acceptance that the exchange between the appellant (Harbhajan) and Mr Symonds was initiated by Mr Symonds and was heated in that the word “f***” was used no other details of the language used was given,” Justice Hansen says in his observations.

“It is apparent that the heated exchange arose because Mr Symonds took exception to the appellant patting the bowler Mr Lee on the backside. …. It is clear that Mr Lee bowled an excellent yorker to Mr Singh who was fortunate to play the ball to fine leg. As he passed Mr Lee while completing a single Mr Singh patted Mr Lee on the backside. Anyone observing this incident would take it to be a clear acknowledgement of ‘well bowled’,” Justice Hansen says.

“However Mr Symonds took objection to this and at the end of the 116th over he approached Mr Singh telling him he had no friends among the Australians in foul and abusive language. Mr Singh became angry and responded in kind. It was accepted by Mr Symonds that some of Mr Singh’s response was in his native language,” the transcript adds.

Subsequently, the Judge also makes several mentions to Symonds’ overall behaviour and attitude, and it can be safely said that the New Zealander is less than impressed.

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