Former Australian cricketer Andrew Symonds killed in car crash

Former Australian cricket star Andrew Symonds has died in a single-vehicle car crash in North Queensland, police say.

Police said the 46-year-old was driving on Hervey Range Road near Alice River Bridge shortly after 11pm, when his car left the road and rolled.

Emergency service workers attempted to revive him but he died at the scene.Townsville Acting Inspector Gavin Oates said the cause of the crash was not known.

That's still being investigated at this stage. Forensic Crash Unit officers have attended the scene and are conducting the investigation and they will prepare a report for the coroner," he said.

"The accident was actually heard by neighbours who are people who live nearby that were the first people on scene and alerted emergency services.

They provided the assistance they could at the time." Symonds played 26 Tests for Australia and won two Cricket World Cups, and is the father of two children, Chloe and Billy.

"We are still in shock – I’m just thinking of the two kids," Symonds's wife Laura told The Courier-Mail, after flying from Sydney to Townsville on Sunday morning. "He was such a big person and there is just so much of him in his kids."

"We are still in shock – I’m just thinking of the two kids," Symonds's wife Laura told The Courier-Mail, after flying from Sydney to Townsville on Sunday morning. "He was such a big person and there is just so much of him in his kids."

Tributes flowed in from the global cricket community throughout the morning, with former teammate and wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist expressing his heartache on Twitter.

"This really hurts," he wrote. "Think of your most loyal, fun, loving friend who would do anything for you. That’s Roy." Ricky Ponting  who captained Symonds during his Test and ODI careers — also paid tribute to his former teammate on Twitter. "If Roy shook your hand you had his word, that's the sort of bloke he was and that's why I always wanted him on my team," Ponting wrote.

An extraordinary player and even better human being. Can't believe he's gone." Former Australian Test captain Mark Taylor said it was "another tragic day for cricket", after the recent deaths of Shane Warne, Rod Marsh, and Dean Jones.

"I can't quite believe it. Another tragic day for cricket," he said on Channel Nine. "Everyone had him earmarked as a white-ball player. He wanted to prove to the world he could play test cricket and he did.

Former fast bowler and commentator Damien Fleming said: "This is so devastating. Roy was so much fun to be around. Our thoughts are with Symonds family.

Fellow former fast bowler Jason Gillespie wrote: "Horrendous news to wake up to. Utterly devastated. We are all gonna miss you mate." Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley also paid tribute to the 'prodigious talent'.

"Andrew was a much-loved and admired cricketer in Australia and around the world," Hockley said in a press release.

Gold Coast Dolphins Cricket Club president Adam Daniels said the club was "deeply saddened" by the tragic death. Symonds had played for the side as a 15-year-old. "I think there's been a lot of tragedy in cricket this year and Andrew was just a bigger than life character and it's shocking to hear," he said.

"I think he was ultimately one of the most talented players. He could do everything, from a batting point of view, (he bowled) medium pace, he bowled off spin, his athleticism in the field. He was just the ultimate athlete.

"I think he was ultimately one of the most talented players. He could do everything, from a batting point of view, (he bowled) medium pace, he bowled off spin, his athleticism in the field. He was just the ultimate athlete.