<p>Symonds was sent home from the event held in England after breaking an alcohol-related team agreement, Cricket Australia had said at that time.<br /><br />Opening up about the episode that also cost him his central contract with CA, Symonds said he went out to watch a rugby league match between NSW and Queensland at a pub after the practice match against Bangladesh and returned late, that too drunk.<br /><br />“I love Origin football and for me, with Origin football comes a few beers. I was wrapped up in watching football and then when I got back (from the pub), I knew then (my career was over),” Symonds revealed in an interview to Channel Nine’s ‘60 Minutes’ programme.<br /><br />The 34-year-old said he felt ‘caged-in’ and feared a mental breakdown due to his inability to cope with the pressures of being an international cricketer. <br /><br />“It takes it out of you, a little bit at a time. Then there’s the build-up from that, and then, boom,” Symonds said.<br /><br />“I sit back now and I look at it and I think at some point I was going to blow. Whether it was now, or whether it was in two months time,” he added. Symonds said he could understand the anger and frustration among fans. “Yeah I can, because I know how desperately I wanted to play for Australia. Still to this day I realise how lucky I am (to have played for Australia).”</p>
<p>Symonds was sent home from the event held in England after breaking an alcohol-related team agreement, Cricket Australia had said at that time.<br /><br />Opening up about the episode that also cost him his central contract with CA, Symonds said he went out to watch a rugby league match between NSW and Queensland at a pub after the practice match against Bangladesh and returned late, that too drunk.<br /><br />“I love Origin football and for me, with Origin football comes a few beers. I was wrapped up in watching football and then when I got back (from the pub), I knew then (my career was over),” Symonds revealed in an interview to Channel Nine’s ‘60 Minutes’ programme.<br /><br />The 34-year-old said he felt ‘caged-in’ and feared a mental breakdown due to his inability to cope with the pressures of being an international cricketer. <br /><br />“It takes it out of you, a little bit at a time. Then there’s the build-up from that, and then, boom,” Symonds said.<br /><br />“I sit back now and I look at it and I think at some point I was going to blow. Whether it was now, or whether it was in two months time,” he added. Symonds said he could understand the anger and frustration among fans. “Yeah I can, because I know how desperately I wanted to play for Australia. Still to this day I realise how lucky I am (to have played for Australia).”</p>