Adelaide, Nov 26 : An investigation carried out by Cricket Australia (CA) into a drunken brawl, involving all-rounder Andrew Symonds last weekend, has reportedly cleared him. He will now be able to play in the second Test against New Zealand at the Adelaide Oval starting Friday.

After being cleared, Symonds apologised to his teammates, but maintained that he was not at fault.

"I maintain that I acted appropriately while at the hotel, but I regret making the decision to visit the hotel as I realise I put myself in a compromising position," the Herald Sun quoted Symonds as saying in Adelaide.

He added: "I have told my teammates that I am sorry to have put them through this distraction at a time when they are trying to prepare for a Test match and so soon after the Brisbane game, particularly those who were also at the hotel and were named in media reports. I have been and am still going through a counseling process and I give my teammates, Cricket Australia and Australian cricket fans (an undertaking) that I will continue the counseling work which, I have already said publicly, is something I want to use to help me understand how and why I behave, so I can be a better person. Thanks."

According to the paper, during a meeting with Australian captain Ricky Ponting and Sutherland last night, Symonds is believed to have reiterated his comments that he had not instigated the physical confrontation at Brisbane's Normanby Hotel.

Sutherland is believed to have accepted Symonds' statement and decided not to end his contract even though he was on a final warning following the Darwin incident when he had "gone fishing" instead of attending an important team meeting.

Meanwhile, manager of Normanby Hotel Mark Lassman also came to Andrews' rescue, saying Symonds' confrontation with a fan was a "non-issue". "A patron at the hotel attempted to hug and take a picture of Andrew Symonds while he was at the hotel on Sunday night. Symonds declined the invitation. Further to that, the member of the public continued to harass Symonds. Security guards then asked the patron to leave for inappropriate behaviour," a statement from the hotel said.

ANI