Test Match Special - Cricket’s great entertainer. Tribute to Andrew Symonds.

Episode Date: May 15, 2022

Kevin Howells presents a tribute to Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds who has died in a car accident at the age of only 46. We hear from TMS commentator Jim Maxwell on his Australia playing career and recent work as a commentator. Plus we discuss his contribution to the English county game hearing from his captains at Gloucestershire, Kent and Lancashire, Jack Russell, David Fulton and Mark Chilton.

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Sounds. You're listening to the TMS podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live. I'm Kevin Howells and welcome to a special TMS podcast paying tribute to former Australia All-Rounder, Andrew Simons, who's died in a car accident at the age of only 46. We'll hear tributes from TMS commentator Jim Maxwell and from his captains during his time at Gloucestershire, Kent and Lancashire, Jack Russell, David Fulton and Mark Chiltern.

This is the TMS podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live. Such tragedy and sadness as tributes are paid right around the world to the former international Australian cricketer Andrew Simons, who died in a car crash in Australia, aged only 46. Extraordinary all-round talent on the international stage with Australia. Two World Cups to his name, of course, domestically in Australia. But here, in this country as well, just a wonderful entertainer with counties such as Kent, Lancashire, Surrey. And where it all began as a teenager with Gloucestership back in the mid-1990s. His captain at the time was Jack Russell,

and Jack has been talking to Steve Crosman. It's just devastating, really. Yeah, it's just so cruel. It's just everybody's in a state of shock, I think. It's just, you know, it's crazy. It's unthinkable. The kid was only 46, so it's difficult to get your head around at the moment. And, you know, we're just thinking of Laura, Chloe and Billy,

that, you know, his family that's their world must be upside down at the moment. Oh, yeah. What is the first thing that pops into your mind when you think of the Andrew that you knew? Positiveity. He was just so, he was just so ultra-positive.

You know, we'd be chatting about hitting the ball into the pavilion, and he'd be thinking, he'd be saying, no, I'm going to hit it over the pavilion. You know, he was such a breath of fresh air, and he came to play for us at Gloucestershire in 95 he was only 19ish and we were trying to get him to play for England at the time we could see what I tell him he was

and there was nowhere that was going to happen he was always going to play for Australia even though he was born in Birmingham because he went to Oz when he was a youngster three months old I think with his adopted parents but he had an English passport so he could play for us at Gloucester and he was

what a player he was just unbelievable He was a captain in the team that year in 95 And he was just a captain's dream Because everything was just so positive He wanted to be involved with everything He wanted to bat, he wanted to bowl His fielding was unbelievable He was a really tremendous fielder

But it's just an all-round general positivity That was just a breath of fresh air And we all loved him We all loved into bits You know, he's great to having your team And he had a great couple of years with us I think he averaged something like 55 over the two years he got seven

seven or eight first class hundreds and he was just great because he felt like he could do anything he just he was he wanted to be in the action all the time on and off the field you know he was great he was just not just a great player but just a great

he was a great person because he would do anything for you and he was he was a dream to have in your team and we're all going to miss him yeah he sounds like the the perfect man for a captain to have in the dressing room? Oh, brilliant, because he was just so, he was so positive.

He was no nonsense, you know, he didn't deal with trivia. He was just straight to the point, straight talking. We're going to do this, this and this. We can do anything's possible. We can do this, this and that. Let's go and try and do it and see what happens. And it was, you know, even at 19 or 20, he was like a leader. He was a leader in the change room.

So for a captain, it was brilliant. and you knew, I mean, his ability alone was great to have in the team. But just that attitude rubbed off on everybody else. And, you know, you won't find a bad word said about him because he would do anything for you. And he was just such a great person as well as a great player. So, you know, it's just unbelievable news, really. Are there any sort of specific moments that just sort of pop into your mind

when you think about the man that you're describing there in the dressing room? Well, I'm thinking of on the field stuff. I mean, it was, I think there was a game. we played at Cheltenham. It was a first-class game, you know, a county game. And he ran three people out before lunch. You know, he ran three out himself, but with direct hits. I don't think they could believe what a fielder was. He was great. And we always remember the, he broke the world record for the number of sixes in the first-class innings, which was recently beaten a few days back by Ben Stokes. He got 16 for us down at Abergavenny against. Glenmorgon. I was in the test match at the time, so I wasn't there to witness it. But, you know, he just kept putting the balls out of the ground, and it was a world record at the time. So that will live long in the memory of all the Gloucester fans. I know that and his teammates. But just it's all round brilliance, both on and off the field.

You know, you wouldn't hear a guy say a bad word about him, and everyone down at Glotteshire, fans and all, we all loved him to bits. August 955, that was, 254 runs. I was going to ask. you what it was like to witness. I didn't realize that you missed it. What an innings to miss? I know. I couldn't believe it. It was when the lads told me about it, it was like spectacular, but

everyone that was there at the time, you know, it was something very special. But that's the sort of cricketer he was. You know, that's the, there were no, he didn't put barriers up or bar anything. He just thought anything was possible. And he loved being in the action, you know, it doesn't matter.

He wanted to bow all the time. He wanted to bat all the time. He wanted to field everywhere, you know, just a dream player. And, you know, if you think of the Aussie team, I think he played 20-odd test matches. Well, the side they had at that time, you know, he just couldn't get in. He did great things in one day cricket form. He won a couple of World Cups. He was a pivotal player in that side, but he couldn't get in the test time. Test team a great deal. We were trying to get into play for England at that time because he had decided at 19 what he was going to do. I don't.

think for sure. I mean, I was pretty certain he was going to go and play for us, but we kept tapping on the door and said, look, come in play for us because he would have been in the England side for 10, 12, 15 years. He would have played under test matches for England. There's no question about that, because he would have been a brilliant all-rounder. What was he like when he was struggling to get into that Australia team? How did he deal with the disappointment? I think he was just, I mean, he was obviously tough for him because he wanted to be in the thick of the action. He knew he was good enough. There was no question about him

not being good enough but he just I just remember him staying positive I don't remember I can't remember he must have had negative thoughts

at various times and disappointments and got down about it but he never showed that you know he never showed that in all the times I ever spoke to him

even the years after he played for Gloucester you know he was always positive he'd always come and find me out he'd tap on the hotel room door

he'd come and find me we'd have a chat and he was was just a bubbly character that was continually positive about everything. So I don't think he lost faith in it. He knew that that was a tough hill for him to climb. And I'm just so pleased he made his mark the way he did because he got his chance and he came up with some magic things in that time. And, you know, it was just great for him. He deserved it. And what's happened is awful, absolutely horrific and tragic. But it's, you know, it's, it's, it's

it's nice at a time like this to be able to remember the greatness of someone, the greatness of the player and the greatness of the man. Yeah, I mean, we wish we were doing it further down the line, but fate is twisted things this way. So he will always be remembered

as not just a great player, but a great person. And I was just so privileged and honoured to have him in the same team as myself and my Gloucester teammates. You know, we were honoured to have the thrill of him around for a couple of seasons at Gloucestershire and if you speak to any of the county teams

they'll tell you the same teams that he played for you know he was a dream player to have in the side and what a character and you know we're all going to miss him badly Jack Russell talking with Steve Crossman we'll hear from Australia in a few moments time

as well on the very sad passing of Andrew Simons but another county team that he played for and made some very big and important contributions was Kent 1999 to 2004 and earlier we spoke to the former Kent Captain David Fulton for his

reaction and tribute well just just shock and it's just heartbreaking news isn't it so soon after Shane Warren and Simo and other kind of larger than life character just

yeah just the reaction is is one of shock he was a wonderful guy to play with the kind of guy that would go into the you want to be you want to have in the trenches with you you can win a game with bat ball in the field with his sheer physical presence but off the field he obviously liked a beer

he was good fun he was good company but just a larger than life guy who never took the game too seriously whether he was playing in a World Cup final or whether he was playing in the streets with his mates he'd approach it exactly the same way hard competitive

but you know with a view to having fun and you know he'll be incredibly missed should say of course as former captain of Kent here Dave when did your first meet him is it a case of you you never forget your first meetings with Andrew Simon's or not yeah I do actually I remember writing about it years ago

before the 2003 World Cup I was asked to kind of pen a piece on Simo and my first memory was he was standing in my doorway the little house I lived in in the back streets of Canterbury when he was our new overseas player and I think we were watching the rugby It might have been from Australia at a silly o'clock in the morning and he just rocked up. He'd arrived in the country a day before, came to watch the rugby and he took up the hole of the door.

I mean, he was a huge man and a real intimidating physical presence. And I thought, I don't fall out with this fella because he was a unit. And he just had this kind of quiet aura about him. He was a man of few words. You know, he liked to fish and catch things with his bare hands. That was Simo. He'd sleep under the stars. He wasn't a man for the kind of final.

of things in life, really. He was a simple soul. But, yeah, big man, and you were kind of always aware of him. When you had him on the pitch with you, he was just such a force of nature, you know, in the field, patrolling the covers or standing at slip, big wingspan, and he was always in the thick of the action. He wanted the ball when he was in the field. He wanted to make things happen. He was a great, great guy to have on your side. And I remember saying in 2004, you know, I wouldn't have, if I had a choice of any overseas pro, of any of the ones that I'd played with, and that includes Carl Hooper and Murrally and Roald Dravid, Aravinda,

Steve Waugh, you know, the guy that you want, your first name down would be Andrew Simons just because of everything you brought to the table in terms of his attitude. As a cricketer, his performances, you know, as a fellow teammate and as a captain, but just a bit of an insight, you know, from your cricketing view of, you know, because he was a great entertainer, the likes of me and others.

We just, you know, loved him being on the field, but his cricketing skills. You say he was a quiet man, yet I wonder if there were moments when he did talk about the game and whether he gave a little bit of an insight into what made him tick as a cricketer. Yeah, I mean, there were, but it was just that desire, that will to win. I remember we made, we lost to Surrey in 2002 when they needed 410 to win, I think, and were 200 for seven, and they got up and they won.

And 2003, we'd signed Murray. so we had two overseas, we had Murilly and Simo, and we got a big score on the ball, we had them nine down, with a view to making them follow on. And the last wicket partnership must have been 35, 40, something like that. We just taken our foot off the gas.

And as we were walking off, he came up to me, and he went, do you want them or shall I have them? And I went, you have them. And he just went into the changing room, and he went ballistic at the boys. You know, but passion, like desire to win. You know, we're Kent. Do you remember what happened last?

year. These blokes won a game. They had no right to win. And here we are taking our foot off the gas. He said, this is not what we're about. We've got a hammer home. This is Surrey. This is the old enemy. And it was brilliant. It was hairs on the back of the next stuff from a man who didn't say much. And I threw in a new ball. I went there you go, mate. You have a new ball. And he tore in with the new ball. And he wasn't quick, quick. But he bowled a heavy ball. And I think he bowled 11 overs for about 10 runs off the reel and set the tone. And we ended up winning the game quite comfortably. But he just had this fierce determination. to win. He obviously played with the great players, your Pontings, who he was close to, your Gilchrist, that great Australian side that he probably came into a bit late in the piece, but really contributed. And in one day cricket, he was a pioneer, you know, he was a multi-dimensional cricketer. Back bowl and his fielding, I've just watched highlights of his direct hit runouts. You know, I mean, most of us go a career and might have one director hit runout. He had, you know, loads of them. He was a fantastic guy to have. you know alongside you on a cricket field

and a great guy to enjoy a beer with afterwards did he actually work at that fielding or like everything else look it it seemed to be and what you're telling us seems to be this natural competitive wonderful cricket ever did he need to do any work on that or was it all

yeah look he was very natural but he did work at it yeah I mean the fielding sessions you know we had leading fielding sessions we wanted to pick his brains but yeah he was very natural but he also had some strong opinions on it you know he was a big one for um a lot of people talk about you know get rid of the ball quickly release the ball quickly he was all about getting a base you know getting your eyes level taking aim and then really unleashing a powerful throw and he showed us things and worked at so he did work i mean

he probably had to work on his batting more than anything else because he had these i always said with simo he had kind of first gear second gear sixth gear when he started you know he'd play himself in then he'd hit a couple of fours and then all hell would break loose and he'd just try and hit every ball for four or six and I used to sit down with him and have conversations about if you could locate fourth gear maybe hit it on the floor maybe knock it around score a runner ball you know you're going to get many more runs

than if you play these cameos and I think as he got more mature he learned how to to balance and his natural attacking instinct with the demands of the game but he was a wonderful natural talent but you know make no mistake about it he worked hard but he did it in a fun way You know, training was always fun, and similar as around. The warm-ups were always lively.

He brought a lot of energy to things. So, yeah, great, great guy to play with. Great guy to train with. Just a good guy to have around. Especially to have in your corner because he was very loyal. Loyal. Because if forthright, honest, you might think, well, that might have been hard to handle as a leader of somebody like Andrew Simon. Yeah, look, he was, he was hard at times.

You know, he was flawed. You know, I think he's made mistakes, and now's not the time to go into those. I think people know about his kind of indiscretions. And, you know, sometimes he parted a bit harder. He drank a little bit too much, you know. But he was flawed. We were all flawed in different ways.

But he was, he cared about his teammates. He cared about people. He wanted to win games of cricket. And he was just a, he was a wonderful teammate who, you know, everyone enjoyed. But yeah, he was at times tricky to manage. You would speak his mind.

But I'd much rather that than people go into a corner and speak behind people's backs. You know, come at me, speak, say what you want to say. Say it to my face. Say it to his face. If you've got something to say, let's get it out in the open. And that was what Simo was all about. He was a simple communicator, but you know where you knew where you stood

with him. And that was fine by me. David Fulton talking to me earlier from Ken of course the former Kent Captain such sad tragic news and a big shock here but that and more in Australia of such recent tragic news

regarding Rod Marsh Shane Warren of course as well well Jim Maxwell from the ABC and our TMS colleague had this to say yes I think everybody's just about rang out

with these tragic passings in the last couple of months through Rod Mars, Shane Warren, Dean Jones, before that last year, and now tragically, Andrew Simon. So I think we can offer some greater analysis of his contribution, given the circumstances, perhaps, which is so unkind, unfair and everything else,

because he was a hugely talented cricketer. He probably hesitated using the word great, but there were some certainly some great performances but now it all comes into focus so starkly but at the age of 46 having had a very strong career

particularly with a white ball although as Jack Russell mentioned he probably should have played more test matches he was better than just a player who could knock the ball around in white ball cricket and field and bowl and do all the things that were inspirational

and he showed us that with that century against England at the MCG back in 2007 a match that was probably overshadowed to some extent because it was Shane Warren's last test match and the one where his second last test match where he got 700 wickets

so Simon's is an interesting character very committed loyal had a lot of very powerful relationships with the rest of his players. He was a very straight shooter. He was a bit of crocodile Dundee in the way he went around

berating himself and his personality was huge and sadly for him the whole sort of Monkey Gate issue in 2008 threw him off the track and he was never quite the same after that

and eventually he slipped out of the game but not before he'd made a significant contribution in the IPL. He was one of the early stars when it got going in 2008. But I remember little things, not just the big things like his 143 in Johannesburg to kick off that 2003 World Cup at the point that Shane Warren had withdrawn because of the drug scandal. And Australia may have been a bit wobbly, but he steadied him and they didn't lose a game.

and he was a fixture for quite a while after that in the one-day side. But I can remember in 2007 on the next World Cup, being in the West Indies where, again, Australia didn't lose a game. And he was a formidable force at various occasions. But I was in the team hotel, and I never had this happen before. I just walked in, and I'd sat there for about 10 seconds, and this voice boomed from the other side. What are you doing?

you can't sit on your own go over here you drink with us so that's the sort of he was you always had to enjoy his company you mentioned briefly that

and we should hear some more detail from you Jim around racist abuse that he had to deal with because as you say it had a big impact on him yes well I think you've got a way up

the whole business of who he was and his identity given as, you know, he was born in England in Birmingham and he immediately within a matter of weeks was adopted by two Australians and so there was always some question, I suppose, even when perhaps the back of his own mind

as he grew up and started to understand who he was, where he'd come from, about this. And yeah, he was both, and almost and almost cut back by this episode of racism

on the Monkey Gate and the Harwich and Sin allegedly saying that to him and then there was the sort of

retort and the repetition of it at the SCG and the case that followed in the examination of this and that which

most of us read like a cop out from cricket Australia because they wanted to throw a sop as it were to Indian cricket

who they had a massive commercial relationship with so the players got a bit burnt and the one who got the hurt most out of all of that procedural stuff to keep a lid on India going home and all their complaints about the way Australia had been behaving towards them and I think that was the start of Andrew going emotionally at any rate a little off the rails

and from there on his life not just his cricket became a bit tumultuous and as he admitted himself at the time he probably started to do things in excess that he hadn't done before having a bit too much drink and things like that so I think emotionally it really affected him and he was knocked up by it

and continued to be for some time and it's been so good to hear him doing commentary on the BBL and other games in recent times because he's brought a very straightforward analysis to the game that a lot of people have enjoyed. Indeed, one of us from new fans during that period as a broadcaster and a commentator as well, most definitely. Jim Maxwell there with his tribute from Australia,

talking to Steve Crossman. Back to domestic cricket here for Andrew Simon's because 10 years after arriving with Gloucestershire, he was signed on by Lancashire in 2005. We're here covering a roses match. of course right now, but back in 2005 he scored 146 for Lancashire against Yorkshire. It was a record

breaking total as well put together by Lancashire on that occasion. It was a short period of time with Lancashire but according to his then skipper Mark Chiltson he still made a very big impact. Awful news to wake up to this morning and I reflect back on

my time with him. He made a real impact at Lanks I mean obviously as you said I was the captain of the team in the year he came 2005 and I think we caught him

really when he was he was almost in the pomp of his career and he was just he had such an impact even though he was only here for

sort of a reasonably short period half a season larger than life character and I think you know and someone who I suppose

my immediate memories are him or how committed he was to the team and the cause. I think that was a real standout for him. Obviously, a brilliant player, three-dimensional player, but asked a lot of his teammates and was very, very driven for the side and winning. And, yeah, it had a profound impact on our side at the time. And thoroughly enjoyed playing with him, and it's awful to hear.

someone who you've spent some really good times with. Does that speak volumes about him as a character as well as a cricketer, Mark, that he was only with you for a year, but yet still clearly had such a big impact on the team and newest players? Yeah, I'd suggest so. I mean, we played against each other a fair bit, and he's quite an aggressive opponent. And then I remember when he came to Lancashire,

thinking, right, I better try and build some bridges. From the time we've played against each other, and right from the day one, really, you could see how committed he was to being part of your team. And as you suggest, even though he, I think he only did that one year for us, he certainly remains right towards the top of the list of overseas players that I played with in the impact that they had when they played for us. So, and like I said, I think we caught him at a time in his career where he was flying, really, and he just, he seemed to impact every game and every time we went on the field,

whether it was with that ball or field. And it was his commitment in the field. It's the little things like that when overseas players come and you see the willingness they have to really commit to the cause was a real standout for me. just looking at that scorecard of the quarter final against Sussex 101 he made from 121 balls 7 4s and the 6 he picked up two two wickets in the match and a runout as well I mean that did that type of performance with bat with ball in the field sum

him up quite well yeah I suppose that goes back to my previous point doesn't it it didn't matter what part of the game it was he was always he always had an ability to make an impact and do something that was a little bit special in all aspects. He was capable of going that level up, whether it was diving to stop balls and producing runouts. I think I also think he was quite an imposing physical character and he really imposed himself on the opposition in a competitive way, but never crossing the line. but just you felt his presence and I thought he really, I felt that when I played against him. And then obviously when he's on your team, that has a massive, massive sort of impact on what you're trying to create and the pressure and the intensity of your play. And he was, as far as I can remember, that commitment was just there every second, he was on the field.

You're a similar age to Andrew. So what was he like to catch him with that? It was absolutely fine, to be honest. I mean, I'll be honest, when he first came, like I said, you know, we'd had words on the field before, and I suppose I was a little bit daunted by the prospect of him coming to the club. But once we got to know him and once we got, you know, we made a bit of effort like we do with all our overseas players

when he arrived and to try and sort of include him into a bit of social. stuff and get some food together and things like that. And once you broke down those barriers quite quickly he was a pleasure to captain. Absolutely no issues at all. He was very respectful of

me and my position obviously not being nearly the same quality of player and he was flying for Australia at the time but I never felt for one minute that he he didn't

he just treat me with a lot of respect and I had absolutely no issues with him at all. He was a pleasure to captain. That is the former Lancashire Captain Mark Chilton. Still very much involved with the club of course now in a new role but

as captain to Andrew Simons when Andrew was a player with the Red Rose. Jack Russell, David Fulton, Jim Maxwell also part of the tribute here at the moment. We pass on of course on genuine love and our thoughts to the family and friends.

both Australia and in this country as well of Andrew Simon's who passed away, aged only 46 and I guess as fans, supporters, our side of the boundary. Our thanks to him as well and our memories of what a wonderful entertainer and what fun he brought to our cricket watching and enjoyment. It's still very sad, very tragic news from overnight. You're listening to the TMS podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live. You can read more tributes to Andrew Simon. Simon's now on the BBC Sport website where you'll also find the latest on the county championship.

As Jim Maxwell was saying, Simon's made a big impact in the Indian Premier League. You'll hear more about that in our IPL coverage this week on Five Sports Extra. Keep checking the website for details of all our commentaries on the IPL and county cricket. Also look out on BBC Sounds for more TMS podcasts, including a new episode of Nobles with Kate Cross and Alex Hartley, plus new episodes of tail enders with Greg James, Jimmy Anderson and Felix White. There's also the World Service podcast, Stumped, with Alison Mitchell. The TMS podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live. That's a real cut-throat business.

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