'Indiscipline won't be a hurdle in his selection'

BANGALORE: Under-fire Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds received a major boost from a crucial quarter with national selector Jamie Cox stating that indiscipline would not be a hindrance in the temperamental player's selection in the future.
Symonds was sent back home last week on disciplinary grounds during the ongoing One-day series against Bangladesh in Darwin after missing a team meeting.Symonds had gone for fishing and was not available for the meeting leading to the decision.
"Andrew Symonds will be picked when he is available for cricket again. The decision (to send him back) was made by the senior players' group with support from Cricket Australia. From the selection point of view, we hope Andrew is quickly back and available to play again.
For the moment, it is completely Andrew's decision. He has been given time to go away and figure out what exactly he wants to do," said Cox, who is here watching the Australia A-India A series opener. "Discipline is not a problem for us. We just keep a list of players available," added Cox. However, the selector from South Australia refrained from giving Symonds a guaranteed spot when the all-rounder makes himself available for selection.
"The selection would be based purely on cricket. The disciplinary ground will not have a bearing on that. Anyway, we will make that decision when it comes around," said Cox, who is on the four-member national selection panel which also includes chairman Andrew Hilditch, David Boon and Merv Hughes.
The 39-year-old former Tasmania captain also underscored the importance of the current tour of the A team ahead of the upcoming Test series, particularly in finding a spinner for the senior side.
"We will try to find one (spinner) we think will succeed here (in India). We want a spinner who can play his role in the team in all conditions," conceded Cox, who became a selector in 2006 following the retirement of Allan Border.
Crediting the 2004 series triumph to pacers, Cox said the quicks hold the key as far as the series victory is considered. "Actually, pace bowlers won us the last series (in India). (Shane) Warne played his role, bowling a lot of overs and holding up one end. But it was the McGrath-Gillespie-Kasprowicz combination which really did all the damage. Anyway, we will give spinners the opportunity on the tour though we are looking to our quickies to make the inroads."
On the complicated issue of phasing out seniors, an issue the Indian selectors too have to handle with care in the near future, Cox underscored the importance of a vital balancing act.
"Naturally, as players get older, their performances can sometimes fall away. But their performances really count. It all depends on a lot of factors including whether they are athletic on the field or can fulfil requirements like that. If everything is right, a 34-year-old in the team can do what a 24-year-old is capable of," said Cox, who has been named as the high performance manager of the South Australia team recently.