Adam Gilchrist revealed that Shane Warne had offered Andrew Symonds a coaching role with the London Spirit at The Hundred, and had planned to pay the former all-rounder from his own pockets.
The cricketing world has endured tough times of late, with three of Australian stalwarts, Rod Marsh, Shane Warne and Andrew Symonds passing away within a span of three months.
As tributes continue to flow, there have been touching tales being narrated of the former greats, which make them unforgettable figures. Gilchrirst, the former Australia wicketkeeper, revisited one involving his World Cup winning teammates Warne and Symonds earlier this week.
Warne, who had linked up with the London Spirit at The Hundred last year as the head coach, had planned to get Symonds on board as one of his assistants, despite the roles being already filled. Warne had planned to pay Symonds from his own pockets, as the Spirit didn’t have enough budget for an additional member in the setup.
“A little thing that Roy was telling me just last week was that Warnie had been speaking about getting him over to be a fielding coach or an assistant coach at the London Spirit in the Hundred competition over there in England which Warnie was coach of,”
“It was only a couple of weeks ago that Roy found out there was no budget put aside for Roy; there was nothing documented in the London Spirit set-up. Warnie was doing that of his own accord and was going to pay Roy the wage that he was going to get for being over there. Roy couldn’t believe it.”
Gilchrist told Triple M radio’s Rush Hour show
Gilchrist further reminisced Symonds’ great camaraderie with his friends and colleagues, which was his standout trait.
“That sense of mateship and friendship was everything that Roy built his whole life around – trust and loyalty. Here we are a few days later after him relaying that story to me and he’s disappeared. He was loyal to a fault, he really was.”
Symonds, Australia’s two-time World Cup and 2006-07 Ashes winner, passed away in a car crash outside of Townsville on May 14, aged 46.
