Andrew Symonds has lifted the lid on the tumultuous last year of his life during which he has twice been suspended from playing for Australia.

The all-rounder has missed Australia’s ongoing tour of South Africa as he continues his counselling in the wake of various off-field controversies. His one stint in the team over the summer was cut short by a knee injury, adding to his frustration that he admits at times led to binge drinking.

But while Symonds says he’s been through some tough times, he now feels that other events have helped to put things into perspective.

"They didn’t sit me down and tell me I was diagnosed with depression," Symonds told the Sunday Telegraph. "But I was affected somehow ... I had bad days and really bad days, and then I had great days and really great weeks.

"It’s all part of my personal development and improving. These bushfires and this terrorism stuff towards the Sri Lankans, it puts things into perspective as to what’s important.

"Walking out there and scoring no runs is pretty unimportant if you have had your house burnt down and you have lost your family. Things like that have helped me realise what’s important in life."

Symonds admits that he was "drinking too much and binge drinking, using it as an out or as an excuse if I’d had a bad day" over the season.

"The answer for me is controlling it and knowing when to have a beer and what’s appropriate," he said. "I believe I’ve done that well now."

However, he also insists that the counselling Cricket Australia have asked him to undertake is having the desired effect on him.

"I’ve become more tolerant of the way I’ve got to accept I’ve got to live," he explained. "That’s the thing that used to frustrate me. I enjoy it [counselling]. It’s really helped. I’ll see it right through because it’s been great for me."

After the toughest spell of an incident-filled career, Symonds says he’s entirely focused on playing cricket for his country again.

"If I was to never play cricket for Australia again, that’s something I could live with," he revelaed. "But it’s something I’m not prepared to give up trying to achieve."