'As long as he could afford a cold beer, he was happy' - Brett Lee pens heartfelt message after Andrew Symonds' demise

Former Australian pacer Brett Lee has lauded his teammate and paid tribute to Andrew Symonds, who passed away in a car accident on May 14 (Saturday). Both Lee and Symonds played as many as 171 international matches together between 2000 and 2009.

The former Australian pacer said that Symonds never played for money or fame, and as long as he could afford a cold beer, he would be happy. Lee also opened up about playing with Symonds since the age of 17 in junior cricket and said that Symonds was one of the most gifted players he has ever witnessed.

‘One of the most gifted athletes I ever witnessed’ – Brett Lee on Andrew Symonds

“I knew Roy since the age of 17 from junior cricket. One of the most gifted athletes I’ve ever witnessed. He didn’t play for money or fame, these things were irrelevant to him. As long as he could afford to wet a line & have a cold beer, Roy was happy. First picked in any team,” Lee wrote on Twitter.

I knew Roy since the age of 17 from junior cricket. One of the most gifted athletes I’ve ever witnessed. He didn’t play for money or fame, these things were irrelevant to him. As long as he could afford to wet a line & have a cold beer, Roy was happy. First picked in any team 💔 pic.twitter.com/l1JN3HHJdI

— Brett Lee (@BrettLee_58) May 15, 2022

Talking about Symonds’s career, the 46-year-old played a total of 26 Tests, 198 ODIs, and 14 T20Is from 1998 to 2009. In the longest format of the game, Symonds amassed 1462 runs at a good average of 40.61 and his highest score was 162. In 50-over format, the right-handed batter had scored 5088 at an average of 39.44 whereas in T20Is, he made 337 runs at an excellent average of 48.14.

The right-handed batter had stroked 42 fifties and eight centuries across all three formats in the international arena. With the ball, he scalped a total of 165 wickets and also had a five-wicket haul under his belt in the 50-over format.

Symonds had a decent run in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as well, where he represented Deccan Chargers and Mumbai Indians. Overall, he played 39 matches in IPL and stroked 974 runs at an average of 36.07. Symonds had also had five half-centuries and one hundred in the tournament.