Andrew Symonds. Photo / Getty Images
MELBOURNE - Australian allrounder Andrew Symonds has been fined A$4000 ($5176) for referring to New Zealand star Brendon McCullum as a "lump of s***" in a radio interview.
Symonds, 33, pleaded guilty at a Cricket Australia disciplinary hearing in Melbourne on Thursday to a charge of making a
detrimental public comment under the Australian players' code of conduct.
The Queenslander made the remark in an interview last week when critical of McCullum's selection for NSW in the Twenty20 final against Victoria.
Symonds, who appeared in person at a hearing presided by retired judge Gordon Lewis, again apologised to McCullum, and said he was focused on returning to the field.
"Whilst the comments were intended to be light-hearted, I acknowledge that they were careless and as such I accept the fine that I have received today," he said.
"I am pleased that the commissioner determined the penalty based on the full 14-minute interview, and not just the one comment that received extensive coverage.
"I want to again apologise to Brendon McCullum for my comments and thank him for his understanding.
"I want to reinforce that I remained committed to Cricket Australia and Queensland Cricket, and I look forward to putting this matter behind me so that I can focus on my cricket."
- AAP
