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Sydney: Australian cricket bosses have told all-rounder Andrew Symonds, who was dropped for disciplinary reasons, that talk is cheap and he will have to prove he has changed.
Symonds was sent home from Darwin on the eve of the Bangladesh series after he skipped a team meeting to go fishing and was not included in the squad touring India.
The all-rounder has apologised and spoken about returning as a better person.
But Cricket Australia (CA) chief James Sutherland told the Courier Mail: "I've had a couple of chats with him in the last couple of weeks. He knows that talk is cheap at this time and it's the actions that really count.
"I think he really understands that actions are the things that are really going to speak for him now and that's what he wants to concentrate on.
"I've got a really good feeling about the way he is working towards coming back.
"There's nothing more that he wants right now than to be playing cricket for the Australian cricket team.
"I am really confident - talking to him and hearing others talk about how he is applying himself - that it won't be too far away," he said.
However, as Symonds continues his rehabilitation programme, officials have not set a timeline for his return.
"I don't think there is any set timeline," Sutherland said.
"Andrew has quite rightly been careful not to build any expectations. We are all on the same page in terms of wanting to see Andrew back playing cricket for Australia."
India and Aussies warned
Australia and India have been warned about making inappropriate comments after the latest outbursts from players.
International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee Chris Broad has spoken to representatives of both sides and warned them that code of conduct charges could be laid against individuals speaking out during the current series between the two nations.
His comments came after Virender Sehwag, just days before the first Test, which began yesterday, accused the Aussies of cheating in the series between the two last year.
Australian captain Ponting responded by saying Sehwag's comments were insulting.
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