Symonds, one of one-day cricket's dynamic players, was fined and suspended when he arrived for Australia's one-day international with Bangladesh in Cardiff during last year's Ashes series in England under the influence of alcohol.

Skipper Ricky Ponting later spoke of his fury at Symonds' behaviour that day and former chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns wanted the player sent home and was dismayed when instead he was fined and slapped with a two-match ban.

Symonds writes in his new book "Roy: Going for Broke" he has been told by CA chief executive James Sutherland that his Australian contract will be ripped up if he falls into trouble again.

In extracts published in Melbourne's Sunday Herald, the all-rounder tells how team-mate Michael Clarke frantically tried to revive him from his stupor on the morning after his drunken night out during the 2005 Ashes tour.

And Symonds says it was Clarke who, again, saved him when he wanted to fight a Cheetahs rugby union player in a nightclub incident on Australia's tour of South Africa in March.

He says Clarke defused an explosive flare-up when Symonds wanted to "take it outside" from Cape Town's Hemisphere nightclub.

Symonds writes of his Ashes disgrace that he turned up at breakfast at the team hotel in Cardiff still dressed in jeans and shirt from the night before.

"Then I fell asleep and the next thing I know I'm being pinched, prodded and poked before getting drenched with water," Symonds said.

"I didn't feel the first bottle of water that 'Pup' (Clarke) poured over me. The water that finally registered was when I was standing up, albeit unsteadily, in the shower.

"Another shower didn't help and by the time the warm-up started on the field, the gig was pretty well up, especially when I slipped off the 'wheelie' bin that I was doing my stretches against."

During subsequent contract talks, Sutherland told Symonds his international career was finished if there was any more trouble.

Sutherland ordered Symonds to "walk away" from any alcohol-fuelled dramas -- even if his team-mates were involved.

"James Sutherland was quite clear that this latest contract would be ripped up if I overstepped the mark again," Symonds said.

He admits wanting to fight a Cheetahs player in a nightclub incident in Cape Town in March and says Clarke possibly saved his career.

"I was happily chatting away to Springbok prop Ollie Le Roux when another Cheetahs player further down the bar decided to make trouble," Symonds wrote.

"There were a few hard stares exchanged, until I decided enough was enough and asked this fella whether he wanted to take it outside.

"I was on my way out when Pup zoomed in to steer me away. I owe Pup big time."

Symonds says he is reformed, and apologises to those team-mates and officials involved in the Cardiff incident.