I think I’d be right if I said I was wrong earlier this week when stating that Andrew Symonds had to be selected for the Australian team for the upcoming tour of South Africa. That call was made in full knowledge of his radio comments about Kiwi all-rounder Brendan McCullum and pivoted on his cricket ability and the need for that talent to prop up the ailing Aussie team. It even allowed for the fact that Symonds was not really firing too well with bat or ball in the Sheffield Shield matches this season. Since then he has fronted up once more for Queensland against West Australia and to call his efforts dismal would be over-rating it. Yesterday he struggled to make five runs before falling to an ordinary shot and now just minutes ago he failed again in Queenslands second dig. It isn’t just that he failed twice, he played and missed several times and never really looked comfortable. Added to his pain was the fact the Australian selector Andrew Hilditch was in the crowd watching and assessing his form. If there is a selection criteria based on past performances, present form and potential the call must now be for Symonds to be left out.