Clark dismisses Kirsten's suggestions over Symonds

Darwin, Sep 6 (UNI) Pace bowler Stuart Clark has dismissed Indian coach Gary Kirsten's suggestions that the next month's four-Test sequel to the 2007-08 Bollyline series against Australia would have less tension without Andrew Symonds and said the all-rounder is a larger than life character against whom everyone loves to compete.

''It's a tough one because Symonds is such a larger than life character. I wouldn't have thought so,'' Clark said here yesterday.

''As much as what happened, people still love to see him playing cricket and people love playing against him and competing against him, because he's that type of person,'' the pacer added.

Symonds was caught in yet another controversy last week when he missed a compulsory team meeting and instead went out for fishing following which he was immediately sent home from the ongoing ODI series against Bangladesh here.

The burly all-rounder is expected to be excluded from the tour of India and is receiving professional help on the recommendation of Cricket Australia (CA).

However, Australian selector Jamie Cox said Symonds's latest infringement would not count against him when he does make himself available.

Earlier this year during India's tour of Australia, Symonds and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh were involved in one of the biggest controversy of the game - the 'monkeygate' - which surprisingly marred the three-Test series between two of the toughest teams in the world cricket.

''That feeling stuff (between Australia and India), I've said all along it's a media thing. The sides get on well - off the field especially.

''There'll be a little bit of competitiveness, which I hope is in any game of cricket or any sporting match between two countries.

I wouldn't have thought there'd be too much niggle as far as the nasty stuff,'' Clark said.

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