After continually backing Brad Hodge and really believing he would get back into our Test team and put that Baggy Green back on, it would seem all my efforts and firm belief in his batting abilities are not going to be justified.
It is expected that he will announce his retirement from First-Class cricket (4 day cricket) and finish with the Bushrangers this year.
He will continue to play 50 over and T20 cricket, which is the good news but it is unfortunate none the less. Apparently over 50 First-class centuries wasn't enough.
The competition has always been strong for places in the batting line-up but there have been many times where those of us here spoke about him being overlooked time and time again.
He hasn't done a great deal wrong, with a sligh mess-up in India in 2007 which many people held over his head. He has continued to put in strong, dominating performances for the Vics while also maintaining consistency throughout this season. He still has a reputation for power striking and having the ability to maintain his composure for extended periods in the middle.
He did what he had to and that was too keep scoring runs!
Hodgey was even issued a fresh Cricket Australia contract for the season which seems to have been a total bloody waste. He wasn't considered for the Ashes despite the experience he has in First-class County cricket. He could have slotted in easily but he was pretty much an injury filler in his short yet gapped Test career.
Taking the contract, the State runs and the never ending disapointments into consideration, I can't blame the man for deciding the time is near to call it a day from the extended form of the game.
You can go on about pride and all of that but what really matters is that he was making these runs to get his opportunity to play Test cricket for Australia, courtesy of his performances for the Bushrangers.
In a statement he made he had the following to say regarding the above:
"I was struggling to find reasons as to why I wanted to play. I've always wanted to play Test cricket for as long as I can. But what's the difference if I get one more Test now? I want to play 30 or more, but that's not going to happen. In my own mind I just didn't want to go through it any more.
"To be honest, I struggled in the contest. The passion to play is not there any more. I played [first-class cricket] so I could play for Australia, so I reached the point where I was struggling to work out the reasons why I was still playing."
That is fair enough and I hope that he will get more valuable time with his family and that other doors will open up for him.
He is a fine batsman and while his personality may have not clicked with many people and he is certainly not the most popular bloke (based on the many forums and comments I read on articles over the years), I think he did a damn good job in Test cricket when given the chances. Hopefully there will still be some fireworks from him in the other forms of the game he will continue to play.
Good luck Hodgey and that First-class record speaks for itself (as of 01 Dec 2009)!
Matches: 222
Innings: 38
N/Out: 38
Runs: 17 012
H/Score: 302*
100's: 51
50's: 63
Average: 48.88
Brad Hodge, sadly another Baggy Green in the scrap-yard.
7 comments:
Good player. Sad to see him go but good to hear that he has made a firm decision and moving onto the next phase of his life. Truly, an unlucky player. Clark's retirement isn't too far away either.
Possibly the unluckiest cricketer to have ever played for Australia. The situation of Brad Hodge makes a mockery of the idea that the Australian side is selected based on merit or performance. Unfortunately the process is beholden to bias, personality and favouritism, a fact which probably cost Australia the Ashes series. Reform of the selection processes and committees is badly needed, but unlikely to happen while there remains so little accountability.
'...makes a mockery of the idea that the Australian side is selected based on merit or performance. Unfortunately the process is beholden to bias, personality and favouritism, a fact which probably cost Australia the Ashes series. Reform of the selection processes and committees is badly needed, but unlikely to happen while there remains so little accountability.'
This is quite a bold way to put it. While we appreciate the level of competition to get to the elite level in Australian cricket, the NSP's panic tactics have made, as you put it 'merit or performances', a bit of a contradiction.
Thanks for your input mate. Well said.
Jawad, glad to see you back again.
Stuart Clark is in a similar position but certainly had a better run the Hodge. Opportunity was greater.
Atleast we have a good group of players to move forward with, so that is very positive when these senior/experienced guys step down.
Stuey is harder to understand than Hodge, because he is from NSW. Hodge is a Victorian - despite playing well for both the Vics and Lancashire over the years, if there is an even remotely decent NSW player in the mix Hodge will be forgotten.
Just adding a little contention for you, Ian ...
Hey Sids! Long time. That's true.
Hodge actually spoke about that exact thing about two months ago. How NSW dominate the cricket scene when it comes to selection and players been given 'the spotlight'.
Certainly true to a point!
I picked up a weakness in his game during the ODI series in NZ, where he would go after the ball outside of off stump. I believe the selectors also picked this up and I don't think that thought ever left their mind.
The final nail in the coffin was the 07 ODI series against India, he was never going to gain the selectors faith after that.
He certainly was unlucky to be dropped after making his double 100 but once it was done it was always going to be hard for him to get back into the team.
ian and anon,
whilst i agree the selectors have made some stinkers, i must ultimately agree with sylvester.
i believe hodge was found out against quality quicks. he fiddled outside off stump too often.
wickets in eng, saf, india and nz all have more life in them than aussie pitches. this made him a potantial liability.
a fine 1st class cricketer and a victorian great but not '... the unluckiest cricketer to have ever played for australia.' i think dean jones jamie siddons darren lehman and matthew elliot are all at least as unlucky.
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