‘Viv Richards reincarnated’ - Shane Watson pays top-tier tribute to Andrew Symonds

Global cricket fans were in shock when they heard that the Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds left the world due to a car crash in May. A public memorial was held last month for Symonds, where his fellow cricketers paid tribute to him. One of his former teammates, Shane Watson paid tribute to his impact on teams by comparing him to the West Indies legend Viv Richards.

Watson heaped high praises on Symonds’s all-round abilities and said that Symonds was one of the best fielders he had ever played with. His all-round abilities made him special from other players of his time.

You felt bulletproof when you played in the same team as Andrew Symonds: Shane Watson

Speaking on the ICC Review, Watson said: “You felt bulletproof when you played in the same team as Andrew Symonds. Having him at the 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,”

He also added: “His poor two kids, such beautiful kids, and they adored their dad as well. We need to make sure we rally around his family as much as we can, as I know he would do that for us. He was very much Viv Richards reincarnated in the way he played. 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,”

Speaking about Andrew Symonds’s career, he was an integral part of the Australian squad which won the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2003 and 2007. He represented Australia in 26 Tests, 198 ODIs, and 14 T20Is. He managed to score 6887 international runs along with 165 international scalps throughout his career.