Fans, players, family and friends stood in silence before Australia’s first ODI against Zimbabwe in Townsville to honour Andrew Symonds, who died in May.
Symonds’ children Will and Chloe accompanied Aaron Finch and Marnus Labuschagne as the teams lined up at Riverway Stadium prior to play before further tributes to the cricket great and local unfolded during the innings break.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Andrew Symonds given a minute silence in Townsville
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Chloe and Will, wife Laura Vidmar, Symonds’ sister Louise, mother Barbara, best mate Jimmy Maher and Symonds’ dogs Buzz and Woody walked out to a guard of honour formed by both teams and laid some of the cricket great’s personal items at the wicket.
On an overcast and windy day in Townsville, the clouds parted and the gusts showed some reprieve as the mid-match tribute began.
Symonds’ Akubra hat, crab pot, fishing rod, bat and baggy green were laid at the city end stumps as John Williamson’s True Blue rung out around the stadium.
Warm applause met the family as they made their way to and from the wicket, with the Townsville faithful paying their respect to ‘Roy’.
With Symonds’ Test number and nickname emblazoned across the grass, there was no better place to honour his legacy.
Andrew Symonds’ family pays tribute to the late cricketer. Credit: GettyAfter the touching tribute, Australia made a dominant start to their clash with Zimbabwe, as all-rounder Cam Green led the way with five wickets.
It was Green’s first five-wicket haul for Australia as the hosts bowled Zimbabwe out for 200.
Green had just one ODI wicket prior to Sunday’s game but cleaned up the tail after getting the key wickets of dangerman Sikandar Raza and skipper Regis Chakabva earlier on.
Wesley Madhevere scored a career-high 72 runs and opener Tadiwanashe Marumani added 45 as Zimbabwe looked on track to put up a defendable score after being sent in to bat first at Riverway Stadium.
But, when Adam Zampa got Madhevere caught and bowled and Chakabva was caught by Starc following a Green delivery, Zimbabwe’s tail quickly collapsed.
Cameron Green was dominant with the ball. Credit: Ian Hitchcock/Getty ImagesThe visitors started strong and nullified Australia’s star pacemen Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, but a change of bowling quickly split the opening batters then the spinners were disciplined to stifle the run rate.
Mitchell Marsh got innocent Kaia in the 12th over caught and bowled while Marumani continued to make inroads on the scoresheet.
When spinners Zampa and Glenn Maxwell were introduced, it took Zampa till his third over to get his first of three wickets, bowling Marumani.
He was later hit for two boundaries in the same over but floated the ball up again with confidence, this time to Tony Munyonga who opened his bat up and Steve Smith took a terrific catch over his shoulder while running back.
Andrew Symonds’ children Will and Chloe were involved in a moving tribute to their legendary father before Australia’s first ODI against Zimbabwe.
Andrew Symonds’ children Will and Chloe were involved in a moving tribute to their legendary father before Australia’s first ODI against Zimbabwe.Dangerman Raza, who had three centuries in his last six innings, didn’t last long as Aaron Finch deployed his quicks against him. Raza was caught on the boundary off a pull shot.
As the Aussies looked set to take control at 4-124, Madhevere and skipper Chakabva steadied the ship and built a partnership of 63 runs off 11 overs.
That quickly disintegrated when Green got Chakavba for 31 runs at 6-188 then Ryan Burl, Luke Jongwe and Brad Evans all quickly followed as Green finished with bowling figures of 5-33.
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