Rediff

Melbourne, Jan 27: The public apology he tendered was not enough and troubled all-rounder Andrew Symonds  will now appear in a Cricket Australia code of conduct hearing on Thursday to explain his radio diatribe against New Zealand player Brendon McCullum.

"Cricket Australia (CA) has reported Andrew Symonds for a Cricket Australia Code of Behaviour breach following a radio interview in which Symonds made comment about New Zealand and NSW player Brendon McCullum last Friday," CA said in a statement.

"The report alleges that Symonds breached the Code of Behaviour provisions relating to detrimental public comment," it said, referring Symonds' comments in which he called McCullum a "lump of s**t" after New South Wales had signed the Kiwi for the final of the domestic Twenty20 competition.

The hearing would be chaired by CA Code of Conduct Senior Commissioner Gordon Lewis.

"A CA Code of Behaviour hearing presided over by CA Code of Conduct Senior Commissioner Gordon Lewis will be held at CA's offices in Melbourne at 12.30pm on Thursday January 29," the statement read.

CA's acting CEO Michael Brown said the hearing would be a closed-door affair and media would be told of the findings after the proceedings are over.

"In accordance with normal CA procedure, the hearing will not be open to the public or media. Given the importance of the tribunal hearing, it would be inappropriate to comment on the issue now a report has been made," Brown said.

"Once the outcome of this hearing is finalised, CA will be in a better position to assess issues relating to Andrew Symonds," he added.

The embattled all-rounder, who has a history of on and off field controversies, issued a public apology to McCullum insisting that his alcohol-fuelled radio comments were made in jest.

Symonds is reportedly also facing the prospect of being sent back to rehab for the second time in five months. Local media reports say CA has lost patience with him and officials are seriously concerned about his mental well-being.