Controversial Australia [ Images ] all-rounder Andrew Symonds [ Images ] has been sent home from the World Twenty20 [ Images ] tournament in England [ Images ] on disciplinary grounds.

Cricket Australia said the 33-year-old, who was absent from training on Thursday, was dismissed after breaking rules relating to alcohol.

CA Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland told a press conference in Melbourne [ Images ] Symonds would return to Australia as soon as possible and an application will be made to the ICC [ Images ] to replace him in the 15-man Australian squad.

Australia begins its campaign in the tournament against the West Indies [ Images ] on Saturday.

Sutherland said the decision to send Symonds home is regrettable.

"The breach of team rules of itself was not a major offence but was in effect the final straw after a series of previous indiscretions and in the light of the undertakings Andrew had given.

"I am disappointed in Andrew, but I am also disappointed for him after all the work he has done with Australian cricket's support in the last year - - and CA will be encouraging and supporting him with continuing rehabilitation on his return home".

Symonds is due to leave London [ Images ] immediately and expected to return home to Queensland during the weekend.

The incident is the latest in a long line of off-field misdemeanours involving the player.

The Queenslander had already been left out of Australia's 16-man Ashes squad.

In January, he was fined 400 Australian dollars by Cricket Australia for calling New Zealand [ Images ] wicket-keeper batsman Brendon McCullum [ Images ] a "lump of s**t" in a radio interview.

In August 2008, he was sent home from Australia's one-day squad to play Bangladesh in Darwin after missing a compulsory team meeting and going fishing.