Roy Misses Party
Sydney Morning Herald
Thursday September 25, 2008
IT IS perhaps just as well Andrew Symonds is not in town, for the man who famously sledged India for "carrying on" after their world Twenty20 triumph may have struggled to stomach the first anniversary celebrations yesterday.
The Indian press was dominated by reminiscences of the inaugural Twenty20 world championship victory. Both The Times of India and the Hindustan Times devoted full-page spreads to the anniversary of the win over Pakistan in Johannesburg, and the near five-hour ride through the streets of Mumbai on a double-decker bus that followed. At the time, Symonds was unimpressed. "We have had a very successful side and I think watching how we celebrate and how they celebrate, I think we have been pretty humble in the way we have gone about it," he said. "And, personally, I think they have got far too carried away with their celebrations."The world title under Mahendra Dhoni's leadership provided the impetus for India, which had previously been lukewarm about the shortest form of the game, to embrace it. It then launched its billion-dollar baby, the IPL, a rich playing field for the world's best players, Symonds included.
© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald