Adam Gilchrist broke down in tears at the funeral of the late Andrew Symonds. The former all-rounder tragically lost his life aged just 46 after he was involved in a car accident.
Gilchrist attended the private funeral at Riverway Stadium on the outskirts of Townsville, north Queensland along with former Aussie skipper Michael Clarke. One of cricket’s greatest wicket keepers told Daily Mail Australia that the Eulogy was one of the most touching he had ever heard.
“Jimmy Maher gave what I think is one of the most beautiful eulogies you could ever imagine,” an emotional Gilchrist said. “He looked the kids in the eye and delivered a message of what he thought Roy would want him to say and it was really touching, really moving.”
He was pictured sobbing while hugging Symonds’ wife, who was left behind with his two children. His former skipper, Ricky Ponting, who was also present, remembered a moment 'Roy', a nickname for Symonds, injured his arm while playing.
“He was having trouble batting and he lifted his sleeve and his bicep was down around his elbow,” Ponting said. “We said 'what are you doing?' And he was like 'na, just push it back up.’”
Ponting and his teammates tried and failed to get Symonds off the field, such is the desire and determination he had. Matthew Mott, a senior coach and former first-class cricketer, told Daily Mail Australia in a post-funeral press conference that everyone had been 'dreading this day'.
“But I just thought it was an outstanding tribute to a great human being,” he said. "It was tough - I was in eyeline with the kids there and I just kept thinking about how he won't get to see them grow up. He loved them so much and they meant so much to him.
“I suppose the thing I take out of it is the amount of fishing trips I knocked back because we all got too busy, and you'd just love that opportunity to get back out there and do that again with him. For me, he was like a brother. One of those blokes you take for granted and you think they'll always be there. You could tell there were a lot of people hurting in there today.”
The hard-hitting middle order batsman played 26 tests and 198 ODI’s for his country. He scored the first of his two test centuries during the 2006 Boxing Day Ashes Test and played a pivotal role in his side’s two ODI World Cup wins in 2003 and 2007. The fatal car accident occurred just 50 kilometres from his home in Townsville. The police confirmed at the time: "Emergency services attempted to revive the 46-year-old driver and sole occupant, however, he died of his injuries."
