Andrew Symonds' bash hints at comeback

"They'velet me loose, haven't they." And they let him lose, too.

In his comeback match last night, produced a batting display at first tradesman-like and then trademark.Andrew Symonds

It wasn't enough to defeat a composite side of retirees and fringe stars but it was certainly enough to show a return to the longer forms of the game might not be far off, possibly even next week, as the Australians face New Zealand in the first Test at the Gabba.

Symonds hit 45 off 35 balls, including two sixes and one four, as the Australians fell 64 runs short of the All Stars' entertaining and enterprising 4-203.

The Queenslander, dumped from the Australian squad after missing a team meeting in favour of a fishing trip, top-scored for them before he skied one to Simon Katich off Dan Marsh.

Victorian Brad Hodge was the best of the All Stars; however, Tasmanian Michael Dighton stole the show early, even from his opening partner Adam Gilchrist.

The former Australian keeper was celebrating his 37th birthday, but it was Dighton who put the bash in the birthday with some wonderful clean hitting as the All Stars batted first.

Dighton helped the All Stars to 0-51 from the first three overs, taking apart his state teammate Brett Geeves, who was belted out of the attack, conceding 37 runs in his first two overs (he finished with 0-63 from four). Dighton spanked four sixes and a four off him.

Shaun Tait's return to the Australian line-up, after a far longer break than Symonds' hiatus, almost went unnoticed.

But he bowled with pace, so much so that the ball almost went unnoticed for Gilchrist.

"I couldn't see it," he said.

He certainly didn't see the delivery a few overs later, which yorked him and scattered his off stump. Dighton fell in the same over, run out tightly while taking a quick single a little lightly by Xavier Doherty, but not before an entertaining 34 off 13 balls.

The All Stars lost 4-16, but Hodge steadied the innings with cleanhitting in an unbeaten 65 from 45 balls.

Justin Langer proved more than just steady support with 52 not out (43 balls), the two little men combining for a partnership of 120.

The Australians were never really in it.

Matthew Hayden was out early after skying one off Steve Magoffin for four, caught well by Ryan Harris.

And when Brendan Drew hung onto Shaun Marsh's pull shot, juggling it and rolling and finally rising with the ball in between his legs, they were 2-17.

Remarkably, it wasn't the best catch of the night — that honour went to Dighton, whose one-hander to dismiss Cameron White was superb.

Symonds emerged at the start of the fifth over, after Shane Watson was run out by Harris. One big and burly all-rounder out and another in; whether we see the same next week, Watson making way for Symonds, remains to be seen.

"It's good to be back out here," Symonds said.

Back after his own break, in the shortened form of the game, Symonds took short steps towards a full return to the Australian set-up, but important ones.