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Andrew Symonds Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 28, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth9 June 1975

Age46 (at time of death)

BirthplaceBirmingham, Warwickshire, England

ProfessionCricketer

NationalityAustralian

Marital statusMarried (at time of death)

SpouseLaura Symonds (m. 2012); Brooke Marshall (ex-wife, m. 2004–2005)

FamilyTwo children: son Billy and daughter Chloe; parents Ken and Barbara Symonds; sister Louise

Andrew Symonds Biography

Andrew Symonds was an Australian international cricketer known for his powerful batting, useful medium-pace bowling and outstanding fielding. Born in 1975,

Early life and background

Andrew Symonds was born on 9 June 1975 in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, and was adopted at the age of three by Ken and Barbara Symonds. He grew up in Queensland, Australia, where he developed an early passion for sport. Symonds attended schools in Australia, including All Souls St Gabriel's and All Saints Anglican School, and later studied at Ballarat Clarendon College. Fishing and travelling were lifelong interests; he often spoke about childhood memories of fishing in the Burdekin River.

Career

Symonds emerged as a multi-dimensional cricketer who contributed with bat, ball and in the field. He began to build a reputation in county and state cricket during the mid-1990s. In 1995 he won the Cricket Writers’ Club Young Cricketer of the Year award while playing for Gloucestershire and produced eye-catching performances in English county cricket, including an extraordinary first-class innings in which he hit many sixes and scored prolifically against Glamorgan at Abergavenny.

He made his international One-Day International debut for Australia on 10 November 1998 against Pakistan at Gaddafi Stadium. His Test debut came later, on 8 March 2004 against Sri Lanka in Galle, and he played his first T20 international on 17 February 2005 versus New Zealand at Eden Park. Symonds wore the number 63 jersey for Australia and represented Queensland in domestic cricket.

On the field Symonds was a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium bowler. Over his career he accumulated more than 5,000 runs and took over 100 wickets in ODI cricket, joining a small group of players to reach both milestones. He was widely recognised for his athletic fielding, which helped him secure a place in Australia’s playing XI as his batting and bowling developed. One of his most celebrated contributions came during the 2003 Cricket World Cup, when his innings against Pakistan was lauded as one of the finest one-day knocks.

Symonds also featured in the Indian Premier League. In 2008 he was bought by Deccan Chargers as one of the highest-priced players that season, and in 2011 he was acquired by Mumbai Indians.

Public profile

Symonds’ career included high-profile incidents and controversies that received significant media attention. He was involved in the so-called “Monkeygate” episode in 2008, which led to accusations and disciplinary action surrounding alleged on-field racist comments. He missed selection at times for disciplinary reasons, including being sent home from a tournament and having his central contract with Cricket Australia terminated, after which he did not play for Australia again.

Off the field, Symonds dabbled in entertainment. He made a cameo appearance in the Bollywood film Patiala House and participated in the Indian reality television show Bigg Boss 5. He remained a popular figure with fans, particularly in Australia and India, where teammates and opponents alike paid tribute to his playing style and personality.

Personal life

Symonds was married twice. He was briefly married to Brooke Marshall (2004–2005) and later married Laura Symonds in 2012. He had two children, a son, Billy, and a daughter, Chloe. His parents were Ken and Barbara Symonds, and he had siblings, including a sister named Louise. Symonds was known by the nickname Roy, a moniker given by one of his coaches.

Later years and death

Symonds retired from all forms of cricket in 2012. On 14 May 2022 he died in a road accident in Townsville, Queensland, at the age of 46. His death prompted widespread mourning across the cricket community. Tributes included moments of silence at matches, public remembrances from former teammates and opponents, and grassroots tributes reflecting his love of fishing. Family members and friends publicly expressed their grief and recalled his relaxed, generous personality.

Latest updates

Since his passing in May 2022, several public tributes and memorial gestures have been observed by cricket clubs and supporters. A grassroots campaign encouraging fans to leave fishing rods and cricket balls as a mark of respect was launched, reflecting his well-known love of fishing. Prominent cricketers publicly posted condolences and remembered his impact on the game.
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Recent Work

Retirement from all forms of cricket

Announced retirement in 2012.

2012
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Career Highlights

  1. Won the Cricket Writers’ Club Young Cricketer of the Year award (1995)
  2. Scored an outstanding first-class innings for Gloucestershire with a high number of sixes
  3. Part of the small group of players with 5,000+ ODI runs and 100+ ODI wickets
  4. Played a pivotal innings for Australia in the 2003 Cricket World Cup
  5. High-value IPL signings, including Deccan Chargers (2008) and Mumbai Indians (2011)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Andrew Symonds born?

9 June 1975

What is Andrew Symonds known for?

Cricketer

What is Andrew Symonds’s marital status?

Married (at time of death)

Who is Andrew Symonds married to?

Laura Symonds (m. 2012); Brooke Marshall (ex-wife, m. 2004–2005)