Andrew Symonds labelled a 'good fiction writer' by Harbhajan Singh after claiming former India off-spinner broke down crying over 'monkeygate' incident

Perth: Andrew Symonds says India spinner Harbhajan Singh “broke down crying” while making peace after the infamous ‘monkeygate’ episode had sent the former Australian all-rounder into a downward spiral. A decade on from the ugly incident in the 2008 Sydney Test, where Harbhajan was accused of calling Symonds a “monkey”, the Australian said they emotionally called a truce three years later. The pair buried the hatchet while turning up for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League. “…He actually broke down crying, and I could just see that was a huge weight off his shoulders, he had to get rid of it. We shook hands and I gave him a hug and said: ‘Mate, it’s all good. It’s dealt with’,” Symonds told Fox Sports. Harbhajan, however, had a completely different view from Symonds, and denied the incident altogether. “WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN ??? BROKE DOWN ???? WHAT FOR ???,” tweeted the leading Indian off-spinner in response.

WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN ??? BROKE DOWN ???? WHAT FOR ??? Harbhajan broke down when apologising for 'monkeygate' - Symondshttps://t.co/eQFeETVChy

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) December 16, 2018

Harbhajan, who has 686 international wickets to his credit, later posted a more detailed reply on Twitter, calling Symonds a ‘good fiction writer’, adding that it’s time the Australia all-rounder ‘grew up’.

I thought he was a very good cricketer but Symonds has turned out to be a good fiction writer - he sold a story then (2008) and he is ‘selling a story’ now (2018). Mate, the world has come of age in these 10 years and it’s time you also grew up

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) December 16, 2018

Former West Indies pacer Tino Best tried getting involved in the conversation, but only received a sarcastic reply from Harbhajan in return. Best had earlier taken offence to the Indian off-spinner’s comments on the current West Indies team during their recent-concluded tour of India, a tour in which they could manage just one victory across formats.

Who is this ??? Guys this guy looking for attention.. does anyone know who he is ?? 👇 https://t.co/mRvCteBdZM

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) December 16, 2018

Harbhajan, who in 2008 denied any wrongdoing, was suspended for three matches. But the ban was overturned after the visiting team, feeling hard done-by, lodged a protest in what was an all-time low in India-Australia cricket relations. Reliving the incident, Symonds said, “We go to a very wealthy man’s place for a barbecue, drinks and dinner one night and the whole team’s there and he had guests there, and Harbhajan said ‘mate, can I speak to you for a minute out in the garden out the front’. “He goes, ’look, I’ve got to say sorry to you for what I did to you in Sydney. I apologise, I hope I didn’t cause you, your family, your friends too much harm and I really apologise for what I said, I shouldn’t have said it’.” Symonds, who was born in England with one of his parents of West Indian background, has previously recounted how his life went downhill after the incident. The burly all-rounder, who felt let down by the system, started drinking heavily and in June 2009 his Cricket Australia contract was withdrawn after he was sent home from the World T20 following the latest in a series of alcohol-related indiscretions. “I suppose this would be the moment where my whole persona to cricket changed,” Symonds, who is commentating on India’s current tour of Australia, said of ‘monkeygate’. “I didn’t realise how powerful one player, one incident, how much money was at stake and the ramifications.” With inputs from AFP