Doctor's report could save Symonds

Australian all rounder Andrew Symonds international cricket career could be saved by his psychologist Deidre Anderson, who will report to Cricket Australia (CA) that the all-rounder is unlikely to be a disruption to the Australian team should he be selected.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Anderson, who helped swimmer Ian Thorpe reach his decision to retire, is to give CA an assessment of Symonds's mental readiness to rejoin the team and handle the related responsibilities.

While Symonds was charged by CA under its code of conduct yesterday for calling New Zealand's Brendon McCullum a lump of shit” during a radio program, Anderson was yesterday emphatic in her appraisal of the troubled star's progress during counselling.

"If he gets through this and [CA] back him, I think we are going to see two to three years of outstanding performances from a good cricketer and a good man," Anderson told the Herald.

"I think he is as ready as any other player in the team. If you dig deep enough, we all have things to work through and this is his. We all have triggers that make us do things that in retrospect we would prefer not to have done … alcohol may be a part of it but it's a case of assessing the person you are and the person you would like to be,” she added.

"Unfortunately, this mishap has come up, there is a lot of context to it and I hope a little bit of common sense prevails. I am just really proud of how well he is going, other than this slip-up I'm really pleased with the way things have progressed," she said.

Symonds is likely to escape with a fine tomorrow after being charged for the same offence - detrimental public comment - that led to former wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist being fined for calling Muttiah Muralitharan a chucker during a function in 2002.

That is separate to the issue of his future in the Australian team, which is very much in the balance because CA is unclear whether Symonds can successfully bury his demons to resume his place and tour with the side.

Much of CA's opinion will be formed after speaking with Anderson. Alcohol is part of the issue Symonds is addressing.

A retired judge, Justice Gordon Lewis, must assess Symonds's comment in isolation during a hearing in Melbourne tomorrow. While suspension remains open to him, it is believed Lewis is unlikely to impose such a sentence. The maximum fine is 5750 dollars.