Melbourne, Mar 8 : Australian all rounder Andrew Symonds has told how reconciling with girlfriend Katie Johnson has helped him battle depression and given him a new lease on life.

The troubled star of Australian cricket star has also revealed his battle with the bottle, and how he considered quitting cricket besides the deep bouts of depression that left him reeling.

Symonds will get a new look for his new life this month, allowing his signature dreadlocks to be cut for leukaemia charity World's Greatest Shave, The Herald Sun reports.

Symonds and Johnson were one of the glamour couples of the Australian cricket team before the exiled all-rounder requested time and space to confront his depression.

But they have again become close after Symonds underwent routine counselling sessions with a leading sports psychologist.

Those around the cricketer have described the move as positive.

"Being old fashioned and all that sort of thing, when I first went into counselling I didn't think it was going to be for me, but I've completely changed my mind about that whole profession," Symonds said.

On the cricket pitch, Symonds remains committed to forcing his way back into the Australian team for the Ashes Tour of England in August.

"There were days when I was drinking too much and binge drinking, using it as an out or as an excuse if I'd had a bad day or something hadn't gone right. The answer for me is controlling it and knowing when to have a beer and what''s appropriate. And I believe I've done that well now," he said. (ANI)