Symonds – desperately seeking acceptance

One enigmatic occurrence in the Harbhajan episode was why did Symonds rush to defend Lee? When the team as such and Lee in particular had ignored the ‘pat in the backside’ why did Symonds feel offended? Is it because he is ‘macho’ and had to protect his mate?

It is not as simple as that, his need to be at thick of things stem from his need for affirmation as ‘one of the boys’. The Harbhajan episode is one such instance, combine his actions with his subsequent statements it is obvious that that he is seeking acceptance from his team mates by talking about ‘sticking up for his mates’ and how he does n’t mind being the butt of racial jokes if it is from a friend.

Being the lone colored player and also the only Aussie player to have been born outside the country; Symonds had to work doubly hard to be accepted by his team mates. Is it any wonder that he seeks validation at every given opportunity?