Fans, players, family and friends stood in silence before Australia’s first ODI against Zimbabwe in Townsville to honour Andrew Symonds, who died in May.
Symonds’ children Will and Chloe accompanied Aaron Finch and Marnus Labuschagne as the teams lined up at Riverway Stadium prior to play, before further tributes to the cricket great and local unfolded at the innings break.
Chloe and Will, wife Laura Vidmar, Symonds’ sister Louise, mother Barbara, best mate Jimmy Maher and Symonds’ dogs Buzz and Woody walked out to a guard of honour formed by both teams and laid some of the cricket great’s personal items at the wicket.
A very special tribute to the late, great Andrew Symonds ❤️
WATCH #AUSvZIM on CH501 or stream on @kayosports. pic.twitter.com/hbQEVUZBDw
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) August 28, 2022
On an overcast and windy day in Townsville, the clouds parted and the gusts showed some reprieve as the mid-match tribute began.
Symonds’ akubra hat, crab pot, fishing rod, bat and baggy green were laid at the city end stumps as John Williamson’s Hey True Blue rung out around the stadium.
Warm applause met the family as they made their way to and from the wicket, with the Townsville faithful paying their respect to ‘Roy’.
With Symonds’ Test number and nickname emblazoned across the grass, there was no better place to honour his legacy.
