<p>Former Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds was remembered as a rare cricket talent and "mischievous character" at a public memorial in the north Queensland city of Townsville on Friday.</p>.<p>Symonds, who played 238 internationals, including 26 tests, for Australia between 1998-2009, died at the age of 46 after rolling his car off a road near Townsville this month.</p>.<p>Former team mates and cricket greats paid tribute at the city's Riverway Stadium, where hundreds gathered to bid farewell to the player nicknamed 'Roy'.</p>.<p>"The first thing I think of is his commitment to the team, to friendship, to mateship, loyal almost to a fault, his mischievous character," former Australia captain Adam Gilchrist said at the memorial.</p>.<p>"(He was) loyal beyond belief and just good fun."</p>.<p>A swashbuckling batsman and brilliant fielder, Symonds was a larger-than-life character renowned for butting heads with team management over discipline issues.</p>.<p>"He wasn’t a perfect person and he never pretended to be," said former team mate Matthew Mott, recently appointed coach of England's white-ball teams.</p>.<p>Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting and retired pace bowling champions Glenn McGrath and Mitchell Johnson were among guests at a separate private funeral on Friday, Australian media reported.</p>.<p>Symonds' death came with Australian cricket still coming to terms with the passing of spin bowling icon Shane Warne and former wicketkeeper Rod Marsh, who both died in March.</p>
<p>Former Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds was remembered as a rare cricket talent and "mischievous character" at a public memorial in the north Queensland city of Townsville on Friday.</p>.<p>Symonds, who played 238 internationals, including 26 tests, for Australia between 1998-2009, died at the age of 46 after rolling his car off a road near Townsville this month.</p>.<p>Former team mates and cricket greats paid tribute at the city's Riverway Stadium, where hundreds gathered to bid farewell to the player nicknamed 'Roy'.</p>.<p>"The first thing I think of is his commitment to the team, to friendship, to mateship, loyal almost to a fault, his mischievous character," former Australia captain Adam Gilchrist said at the memorial.</p>.<p>"(He was) loyal beyond belief and just good fun."</p>.<p>A swashbuckling batsman and brilliant fielder, Symonds was a larger-than-life character renowned for butting heads with team management over discipline issues.</p>.<p>"He wasn’t a perfect person and he never pretended to be," said former team mate Matthew Mott, recently appointed coach of England's white-ball teams.</p>.<p>Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting and retired pace bowling champions Glenn McGrath and Mitchell Johnson were among guests at a separate private funeral on Friday, Australian media reported.</p>.<p>Symonds' death came with Australian cricket still coming to terms with the passing of spin bowling icon Shane Warne and former wicketkeeper Rod Marsh, who both died in March.</p>