Sydney, Nov 18: Australian batsman Andrew Symonds, who was included into his national side after being sacked for having “gone fishing” in Darwin instead of attending an important team meeting, has said that he had lately realized that alcohol played a part in his poor attitude this year and getting axed from the squad.

He said that the Darwin episode was the “wake-up call” for him and that he needed to address his behaviour.

Karachi, Nov 18: PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt has reportedly said that if Team India is not able to tour Pakistan for “Security reasons” early next year, his country’s side might shift the series, including Tests, ODIs and one Twenty20, to India.

He said the PCB had suffered a lot because of the cancellation of a few series in the recent past, after foreign cricket teams, including Australia, England, South Africa, and New Zealand refused to visit the country in the aftermath of suicide blasts and rampant violence killing hundreds of people.

Melbourne, Nov. 17 : Noted cricket columnist Peter Roebuck is of the view that Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds must play in the first test against New Zealand at the Gabba in Brisbane, provided he is in the right frame of mind.

He said that Symonds is capable of changing a match with bat, ball or catch, and described him as a formidable competitor.

But, he cautioned that if Symonds had reservations about returning to the Australian team, or to cricket itself, then he should withdraw.

“If he is not enjoying his cricket, yearns for the fish and the freedom, then he must recognise it and step aside. Cynicism is destructive,” The Age quotes Roebuck as saying in an article written for it.

Melbourne, Nov. 17: Controversial Australian cricket all-rounder Andrew Symonds has revealed that his excessive drinking was one of the reasons behind his dramatic fall from grace in Australian cricket.

Symonds, now set to be included in Australia''s starting XI for Thursday''s first Test against New Zealand, was quoted by Fox Sports as saying how he had "turned bad" and started drinking too much following last summer''s controversial Monkeygate affair where he felt he had not been supported by Cricket Australia.

Melbourne, Nov. 17: Australian of-spinner Jason Krezja has the potential to play for his country for the next decade, provided he measures up to expectations and keeps his private life in order, believes former Australian off-spinner Colin Miller.

Miller, who took 69 wickets at 26 in 18 Tests, was quoted by the Courier Mail as saying: "I can see him playing for the next 10 years if he can keep his life in order and handle all the expectations."