10 most controversial cricketers of all time

#5 Andrew Symonds (Australia)

Controversial both on and off the field

If there was one guy in the history of the Australian Team that could give David Warner a run for his money when it comes to getting involved in controversies, that guy is, without any doubt, Andrew Symonds. The original bad boy of the Australian Cricket Team, Symonds extraordinary record on the field was perfectly complimented by his rather controversial record off the field.

In August 2008, Symonds was sent home by the team skipping the team meeting while he was out fishing. Symonds was asked to reconsider his desire to play and was dropped from the squad for the tour of India. Just a year later, Symonds was again sent home from England in the middle of the ICC Twenty 20 World Cup, this time due to some alcohol-related incident, in what later turned out to be his last outing for the baggy greens as his contract was terminated by Cricket Australia.

However, he was at his worst during his infamous interview with comedians Roy & HG, where, in an intoxicated state, he called Brendon McCullum a 'lump of sh*t' and indirectly expressed his infatuation towards Matthew Hayden's wife. He was later charged by CA for breaking the code of conduct and deemed unfit for selection until he had completely rehabilitated.