'I'd love to have Symonds back'

Australian captain Ricky Ponting today said he wanted Andrew Symonds back in the team "sooner rather than later" and there were positive signs the troubled all-rounder would return.

Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting on Wednesday said he wanted Andrew Symonds back in the team "sooner rather than later" and there were positive signs the troubled all-rounder would return.

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Symonds was dropped from Australia's upcoming tour of India after he went fishing rather than attend a compulsory team meeting during the one-day series against Bangladesh last month and has been considering his future in international cricket.

Ponting said Symonds' comments to the media on Tuesday, during which he expressed remorse and admitted he needed to change, were welcome.

"I actually think there were some really positive signs over the last couple of days with Andrew," Ponting told reporters in Canberra.

"He's actually fronted the media and admitted that there's some room for improvement in certain parts of his life."

The captain said Symonds would be missed during the India tour.

"He's a terrific player and his Test record and one-day record over the last couple of years for Australia has been outstanding," Ponting said.

"Hopefully, for him as a person, if he can get those things sorted out, then we'll have him back in the team.

"I'd love to have him back in the side sooner rather than later."

The 33-year-old Symonds Tuesday spoke about the difficulties he had coping with his rise from state cricketer to international sports star and admitted he needed to show more responsibility.

"Hopefully, I can come out of this a better person and won't make these mistakes in the future," he said.