Andrew Symonds posted an emotional tribute to his close friend and fellow cricket great Shane Warne just week before he himself died in a fatal car crash.
The retired all-rounder died about 10.30pm on Saturday in Hervey Range, 50km west of Townsville in far north Queensland, when his vehicle left the road and rolled.
The 46-year-old posted a tribute to his close friend and teammate hours after Warne suffered a fatal heart attack while on holiday in Thailand in March.
What was to be Symonds last ever Instagram post was just a two months after the legendary sportsmen rang in the New Year together at a Melbourne pub.
‘Devastated, I’m hoping this is all a bad dream I just can’t get my head around never seeing you again. Love to all the Warne family I’m speechless,’ he wrote.
Andrew Symonds (right) posted an emotional tribute to his close friend and fellow cricket great Shane Warne (left) just months before he died in a fatal car crash
The 46-year-old had posted a tribute to his close friend and teammate hours after Warne suffered a fatal heart attack while on holiday in Thailand in March (pictured, the pair in 2006)
Symonds’ death sent shockwaves through the sporting world on Sunday morning as fans awoke to the news of the loss of another beloved Aussie cricketer.
‘Emergency services attempted to revive the 46-year-old driver and sole occupant, however, he died of his injuries,’ Queensland Police said on Sunday morning.
The accident remains under investigation with the cricketer’s family confirming his death and thanking friends and fans for their support.
Symonds and Warne reunited to celebrate New Year’s Eve at the Esplanade Hotel in St Kilda last year, along with their teammate Michael Hussey.
The retired cricketers appeared to be in great spirits as they engaged in conversation in their sectioned-off area, as fans hovered close-by.
Symonds (in the blue hat) and Warne reunited to celebrate last New Year’s Eve at the Esplanade Hotel in St Kilda last year, along with their teammate Michael Hussey
The legendary sportsmen rang in the last New Year together at a Melbourne pub (pictured, Symonds arrives for the State Memorial Service for Shane Warne on March 30)
The pair earlier last year landed themselves in hot water after they mocked Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne in a live broadcast on Kayo Sports.
Warne and Symonds were seemingly unaware their comments about the cricketer’s colourful batting techniques were being streamed across Australian screens.
Warne described Labuschagne’s batting technique as ‘annoying’ while Symonds said he needed to be ‘hogpiled’.
‘Do something now to his ADD (attention deficit disorder) f***ing pills,’ Symonds appeared to state, referring to the eccentric Labuschagne.
‘Yeah, f**k,’ Warne responded.
‘Jeez it’s annoying. ‘No!!!’ Just f***ing bat properly,’ he continued, referring to Labuschagne’s quirky approach to batting.
‘We’ll have to give him the hog pile,’ Symonds said, as the pair laughed.
‘Mate if you keep that sh*t up we’re going to have to squash your guts out your ar*e.’
The pair had earlier last year landed themselves in hot water after they mocked Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne in a live broadcast on Kayo Sports (pictured)
Warne is pictured on the shoulders of Michael Clarke (left) and Andrew Symonds (right) after winning the 5th Ashes Test cricket match against England in 2007
Their comments prompted Kayo Sports to issue an official apology with fans criticising the sportsmen for remaining tight-lipped.
In their playing careers, Warne and Symonds were in the headlines for their off-field antics almost as much as their ability in their whites.
Symonds recalled one of his favourite memories with his friend and teammate just days before Warne’s state funeral was held at the MCG.
He remembered his shock at finding $40,000 in cash tucked inside a Woolworths bag among Warne’s cricket gear during the 2005 Boxing Day Test match.
‘We were playing a Test match here, I think it was against South Africa in the Boxing Test,’ Symonds told Fox Cricket.
‘The third day we were into and I remember walking in and his gear was just all over the floor.
In their playing careers, Warne (left) and Symonds (right) were in the headlines for their off-field antics almost as much as their ability in their whites.
‘He used to have a lot of socks and a lot of boots, and in between all his big woollen cricket socks was this Woolworths bag full of rolled up $100 notes.’
When he asked Warne what the story was with all the cash, his teammate’s explanation hadn’t surprised him.
‘He goes, “Oh I had a little win at the casino last night Roy and you know what? Cash is king,” he recalled. ‘It was about 40-grand laying on the ground there.’
Symonds added that his friend was ‘generous’ and had always been willing to help the people he liked, saying he counted himself ‘lucky’ to be in that category.
Symonds (pictured with Warne on his shoulder) said his friend had been ‘generous’ and had always been willing to help the people he liked
Michael Clarke and Andrew Symonds are pictured after the ICC Cricket World Cup Final between Australia and Sri Lanka at the Kensington Oval in April, 2007
Former Australian captain Mark Taylor was one of a host of sports stars to pay tribute to the man known fondly as ‘Roy’ as news of his death spread on Sunday.
‘I can’t quite believe it,’ he said. Another tragic day for cricket.
‘Bad things do happen in threes, Rod Marsh earlier this year, not long after that obviously Shane Warne and now Simmo.
‘I took Symo out one day fishing here on Sydney Harbour with ‘The Cricket Show’ many years ago and just watching him flow a fly lure around boats was great to watch. He was entertainer with the bat when it came to cricket.’
Symonds’ teammates Adam Gilchrist and Jason Gillespie also voiced their shock at the horrible news.
‘Horrendous news to wake up to. Utterly devastated. We are all going to miss you mate,’ Gillespie tweeted.
Meanwhile, Former Australian captain Mark Taylor was one of a host of sports stars to pay tribute to the man known fondly as ‘Roy’ (pictured, Symonds at Warne’s state funeral)
Gilchrist simply wrote, ‘This really hurts,’ while Fleming added, ‘This is so devastating. Roy was so much fun to be around.’
Symonds was one of cricket’s most popular characters during the peak of his career, before he went on to work for Fox Sports.
He sported distinctive brown dreadlocks for his entire career, as well as shielding his lips from the sun with glowing white zinc.
The star played 26 Tests between 1999 and 2007 and was a critical member of Australia’s one-day side that won the World Cup in 2003 and 2007.
The star grew up in Queensland and created a legacy as one of the best all-rounders in some of Australia’s greatest teams.
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