Andrew Symonds cleared by Cricket Australia

Andrew Symonds has been spared the axe by Cricket Australia after an investigation found him to be the innocent victim in an altercation at a Brisbane pub on Sunday night.

Symonds last night met Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland and Australian captain Ricky Ponting at a meeting to discuss his involvement in a fracas at the notorious Brisbane nightspot, the Normanby Hotel.

The allrounder is believed to have reiterated previous comments that he did not instigated the bust-up, and took all measures to extricate himself from the situation.

Sutherland is believed to have accepted his version of events and will opt not to terminate Symonds's contract despite the player being on a last warning following a series of off-field indiscretions.

Symonds and Sutherland will address a press conference at the Adelaide Oval at 12.30pm (AEDT) at which will they explain the circumstances behind the incident.

It is unclear at this stage whether Symonds will face other, less drastic, sanctions following the incident.