Sean Abbott pays tribute to the late Andrew Symonds after equalling record T20 knock

Aussie Ashes hopeful Sean Abbott has paid tribute to the late, nice Andrew Symonds after equaling his quickest even century within the English T20 Blast competitors.

Virtually 20 years in the past Symonds crunched the Middlesex assault whereas taking part in for Kent to set the 34-ball century document, a document that has stood since 2004.

Now New South Wales and Sydney Sixers all-rounder Abbott has emulated that feat, coming into bat for Surrey towards Kent after they have been in bother at a precarious 4-64.

In an explosive efficiency, he surpassed his earlier private finest T20 rating of 41 by hitting 11 sixes after being promoted within the batting lineup by captain Sam Curran.

Astonishingly, he managed to hit 10 of these sixes inside solely 17 balls. His feat was simply 4 balls wanting the quickest T20 century ever, a document held by West Indian legend Chris Gayle.

Abbott roars as he hits the runs to carry up his century in a record-equalling knock that places him on par with Andrew Symonds

Twenty years earlier, Andrew Symonds was terrorising bowling assaults for Kent within the early days of T20 cricket

Abbott was cruel in his swashbuckling innings, together with taking fellow Aussie Kane Richardson to activity by clubbing 30 runs off a single over from his worldwide teammate.  

Finally, his efforts led Surrey to safe a match-winning whole of 223-5.

An elated Abbott was thrilled with the outcome, however was reluctant to match himself with Aussie legend Symonds.

‘I do not assume individuals needs to be speaking about me and ‘Roy’ in the identical breath.’ he informed Sky Sports activities.

‘I do not assume I will get a lot sleep tonight however to share that one with Roy, he is a hero of mine and hopefully we get to share a beer upstairs and have a chat about it some day.

The knock seemingly got here out of nowhere, with Abbott’s earlier excessive rating 51 with the Sydney Sixers again residence in Australia. 

‘Must have a chat with [Sydney Sixers captain] Moises Henriques again residence – perhaps I am batting too low!’ laughed Abbott

Curran mentioned the gamers concerned had witnessed one thing particular within the Abbott knock. 

‘Fairly wonderful. I believe I mentioned to him when he was strolling off I do not assume that is going to occur once more,’ Curran mentioned.

‘I believe it was simply a type of nights the place he is simply an unbelievable striker of the ball and that is what occurs in T20 cricket. Within the place we have been in, 60 for 4, somebody needed to step up however to step up and get 100 off 30-odd balls is nearly too particular.’

Abbott thanks the gang after scoring the equal-fastest century within the historical past of the English T20 Blast

Abbott grew to become an on the spot fan favorite, stopping to signal autographs for younger followers after his blistering knock

Symonds was a livewire batsman in all codecs of the sport, incomes a status for his big-hitting for the Australian restricted overs sides

Kent head coach Matt Walker lately informed ESPN how Symonds had simply taken to T20 cricket within the early days whereas different gamers struggled to come back to grips with it

‘It was nearly surreal, as a result of it was so early on in T20,’ Walker mentioned.

 ‘Nobody actually then knew the way to play the sport. It sounds actually unusual however these first couple of years it was to date faraway from something we would achieved as cricketers. 

‘This new type of cricket got here during which I believe everybody was scratching their heads about how they go, some individuals would attempt the slog first, it did not actually work out, and the sport form of handed us by and nobody actually fairly obtained it. However he obtained it.’ 

‘He was a pressure of nature and an extremely gifted athlete that most likely might have performed any sport he wished to if he selected, and he was magic, he actually was completely magic,’ 

‘It was the presence he had in every single place he went… you felt unbeatable with that form of bloke in your presence.

‘He made it an incredible place to be for these years and that interval was one of many happiest I believe I have been taking part in cricket, with that group of gamers and him in it.’