Andrew Symonds’ family pay touching tribute to Australian cricket legend in Townsville

There were emotional scenes in Townsville on Sunday afternoon as the family of the late cricket legend Andrew Symonds paid tribute with his beloved blue cattle dogs before Australia’s ODI against Zimbabwe.

‘Roy’s’ children Chloe, 10, and Billy, 8, joined the Aussie team for the match, standing next to skipper Aaron Finch for a touching minute’s silence before taking on a role as the most enthusiastic hydration officers in cricket history.

Chloe and Billy were also part of further tributes to the much-loved cricketer alongside their mother, Symonds’ estranged wife Laura Vidmar, and Symonds’ sister Louise, mother Barbara, dogs Buzz and Woody.

Best mate, and former Queensland and Australia teammate Jimmy Maher, was also part of the close-knit party party paying tribute, and could be seen comforting Chloe as they left the field. 

From left to right: Billy Symonds, Laura Vidmar, Symonds’ sister Louise, mother Barbara, best mate Jimmy Maher and daughter Chloe pay tribute to late cricket legend Andrew Symonds with his dogs Buzz and Woody

Both teams formed a guard of honour as the grieving party walked out to the pitch and placed his baggy green and cricket bat on the stumps along with some of his favourite things.

Symonds’ Akubra hat, crab pot and fishing rod sat alongside his beloved baggy green as country classics ‘Hey True Blue’ and ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’ blared across the Riverway Stadium’s sound system.

‘Roy’ to a tee. 

Chloe Symonds places her father Andrew’s baggy green on the stumps on Sunday afternoon in Townsville

A few of Andrew Symonds’ favourite things: his beloved baggy green, cricket bat, crab pot, fishing rod and akubra hat

Warm applause met the family as they made their way to and from the wicket, with the Townsville faithful paying their respect to a home town favourite, and many fans could be seen wiping tears away from their face.

Symonds’ Test number, 388, and nickname, Roy, were also emblazoned across the grass.

Prior to the game, the Aussie skipper paid tribute to the man that revolutionised high-octane cricket, and was universally-loved for his laidback nature in the commentary box. 

Andrew Symonds’ estranged wife Laura (obscured) walks his dogs Buzz and Woody alongside daughter Chloe

‘What he did as a player was remarkable. He was someone who put bums on seats, he was box office with bat and in the field,’ Aaron Finch said on the Fox Sports broadcast before the game. 

‘[It’s been] a really sad time obviously for Australian cricket over the last little while. It’ll be nice to have some tributes and his family here. 

‘For someone who was so laidback, his depth of knowledge of cricket and players was second to none. I think the larrikin tag was there, but the deep knowledge of the game was outstanding as well,’ said Finch.

Chloe and Billy Symonds were the stars of the show as they ran drinks for the Aussie side while they were playing Zimbabwe

Fans at the ground and watching for home were all reaching for their tissues as they expressed the many emotions bubbling up from the tribute that was somehow heart-warming and heartbreaking all at the same time. 

One fan wrote ‘Roy would be proud’ on social media, while another said the tributes were ‘so wholesome, so beautiful’. 

Australian cricket great Andrew Symonds died in a single-car crash at the age of 46 on May 14.

The retired Aussie cricketer died late at night in Hervey Range, 50km west of Townsville in far north Queensland, when his vehicle left the road and rolled. His two dogs were also in the car at the time, but survived.

The two cattle dogs were reportedly very protective and shaken when bystanders tried to help Symonds at the crash scene. 

Vidmar voiced her grief at the news in the immediate aftermath, though she and Symonds had reportedly been separated for more than a year prior to his tragic death.

Jimmy Maher (right) and Symonds’ son Billy lay out ‘Roy’s’ favourite things on the pitch prior to the game

Primarily her concerns were with their children, who she said were the spitting image and personality of their larrikin father.

‘We are still in shock – I’m just thinking of the two kids,’ Laura Vidmar told News Corp in May.

‘He was just such a big person and there was so much of him in his kids.’

Symonds played 26 Tests, 198 ODIs and 14 T20Is for Australia, which included his central role in winning the 2003 World Cup in South Africa and a maiden Test century against England in the 2006-07 Boxing Day Test at the MCG. 

Steve Smith (left) and Aaron Finch stand with Chloe and Billy Symonds for the national anthem and minute’s silence prior to the match

Andrew Symonds with son Billy and daughter Chloe before his tragic death in May

However it was the WAY Symonds played and conducted himself off the field that will be forever remembered. 

The larrikin ‘Roy’ was, is exactly why he was honoured and remembered so fondly at Townsville – and far more important than his inherently impressive statistics. 

Australia beat Zimbabwe comfortably in the end, as expected, chasing down 201 with five wickets 16 overs in hand. 

And Chloe and Billy Symonds were the first to run out on the field in celebration.