Australia's Andrew Symonds (foreground) checks a pitch invader to the ground during the second final of their tri-nations one-day international series against India in Brisbane on Tuesday. - AP

BRISBANE, Australia (AP):

AUSTRALIA ALL-ROUNDER Andrew Symonds will likely escape any sanction for pummelling a nude streaker with a shoulder charge during a limited-overs international against India.

The streaker was not so lucky. Not only was he flattened by Symonds on the pitch, he was fined A$1,500 (US$1,390; €914) when he faced court on charges of wilful exposure and interfering with a sports event.

Robert Ogilvie, 26, pleaded guilty, saying he was dared to run on the field naked by his friends and it felt "great" to be crunched by Symonds.

Replays of the rugby-style shoulder charge were shown repeatedly on Australian TV yesterday, featured on Youtube, and pictures appeared on newspaper pages and websites.

The Sydney Morning Herald headline encapsulated the situation: "Runaway nude ends up on hard shoulder".

No evidence, no case, no charge

Ogilvie said he had no plans of bringing action for assault against Symonds and Queensland state police said they would not be further investigating the incident.

Symonds faced the prospect of a lengthy ban if the International Cricket Council (ICC) decided he had breached section 4.2 of the players' code of conduct relating to physical assault on a player, official or spectator.

But Cricket Australia said Symonds had no case to answer and the ICC indicated there would be no charge.

Australia fast bowler Stuart Clark defended Symonds in a television interview.

"It looked like the guy was running at him and Andrew, to some extent, tried to protect himself," Clark said. "We are trying to win a game for Australia and someone comes running on the field because he's probably had too much to drink.

"It's hard for us because we are so focussed on trying to win this game and it's a real break in our momentum."

Symonds stood his ground and leaned into the streaker and checked him when Australia were 34 for three in reply to India's 258 for nine and needing a win to keep the best-of-three limited-overs finals series alive.