ANDREW SYMONDS has been sent home from Australia’s squad in Darwin after missing a compulsory team meeting to go fishing. The all-rounder was due to play in Australia’s one-day win against Bangladesh.

Stand-in skipper Michael Clarke said it added to a number of other recent incidents which raised doubts about the 33-year-old’s commitment. He said: “Andrew is disappointed but we need to keep high standards.”

Clarke stressed Symonds could return to the squad only if he was willing to conform to team rules. He added: “Andrew accepts our decision. I know him pretty well and I hope he goes away from this and gets himself right and back into our team, because he’s a very important player and we certainly want him as part of our squad.”

Symonds has previously courted controversy over his behaviour. He was left out of a one-day match against Bangladesh in 2005 after arriving for the game under the influence of alcohol.

Despite the all-rounder’s absence, Australia won the opening game of the three-match series by 180 runs. The remaining matches will take place on 3 and 6 September.

SEAN ERVINE made an unbeaten 94 as Hampshire dented Durham’s title hopes with a surprise two-wicket win at the May's Bounty ground in Basingstoke.

Durham were set to go top of Division One, needing only five wickets with Hampshire still 132 short of victory, but Ervine hit 14 fours in 169 balls as the 240 target was achieved.

A CENTURY from James Foster and Chris Wright’s career-best six for 22 helped Essex to victory by an innings and 74 runs at Leicestershire in Division Two.

Teenage debutant Jaik Mickleburgh reached his half-century with a six as Essex took a first-innings lead of 228.

Half the Foxes side were out for 51 and even a robust eighth-wicket stand of 87 could not prevent defeat. CHRIS ROGERS hit a double-hundred for Derbyshire to foil Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

The home side had posted476 for nine declared in their first innings, but the Derbyshire captain’s 249 not out meant a sixth consecutive championship draw at the ground.