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- Jan 13, 2010
Article by Sylvester -
Brad ‘Dodgeball’ Hodge continued his quest for a shock return to the One Day International arena with his third hundred in 5 matches against Queensland. Hodge has been a consistent run scorer in all formats but has been continually overlooked for a recall. However, his current hot streak might be a bit too hard for the selectors to resist.
Last season he scored four hundreds in 11 matches at an average of 69.11 with a strike rate of 93.53. This season he has three hundreds in 5 matches at an average of 138 and a strike rate of 103. Those sorts of numbers would be more than enough to get a normal player into the side but whatever fallout Hodge had with the selectors and maybe Ponting has really stalled his career.
It is high time the selectors put that aside, in Hodge they have a player that is capable of scoring at a run a ball from the top 3 and last to the death to hit out, something which Shaun Marsh struggles to do. Marsh is essentially the backup opener but it is hard to find someone that is in better form than Hodge at the moment.
What could count against Hodge is his last ODI series which happens to be where the World Cup is being held. In that series he scored 59 runs at 10 with a strike rate of 55 from 6 innings, his worst International series. He was moved around the order which never helps a player but you have to take your opportunities in the Australian setup.
Hodge will struggle to break into the starting 11 with only the number 7 spot open which wouldn’t suit Hodge’s game not to mention the selectors like filling that spot with an all rounder. Also Callum Ferguson would be a better fit for that spot. His ideal spot is filled by captain Ricky Ponting which is definitely not up for grabs. The opening spot next to Watson could be a spot for Hodge but that would mean moving Haddin back down the order. In terms of making the 11, he will struggle but he would be a very handy backup option if required.
Two possible bolters lie in fellow Victorians – Aaron Finch and Matthew Wade. Finch lacks that hundred to really push his claim but he is an aggressive opener and is in the form of his life at the moment. Wade would provide a backup keeping option and he has played as a specialist batsmen before so he would offer the versatility that the selectors could be after. What he offers over current backup in Tim Paine is his aggressiveness, his career strike rate is 89.5 and his strike rate this season is 109 from 3 innings. He won’t let you down whether he is opening or batting at 7 which I feel is a weak point for both Haddin and Paine who have struggled to hit out at the death.
So if the selectors are after a backup opener then Hodge is the man they are after, in terms of backup keeper I would pick Wade over Paine.
Photo taken from Cricinfo.com
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Brad ‘Dodgeball’ Hodge continued his quest for a shock return to the One Day International arena with his third hundred in 5 matches against Queensland. Hodge has been a consistent run scorer in all formats but has been continually overlooked for a recall. However, his current hot streak might be a bit too hard for the selectors to resist.
Last season he scored four hundreds in 11 matches at an average of 69.11 with a strike rate of 93.53. This season he has three hundreds in 5 matches at an average of 138 and a strike rate of 103. Those sorts of numbers would be more than enough to get a normal player into the side but whatever fallout Hodge had with the selectors and maybe Ponting has really stalled his career.
It is high time the selectors put that aside, in Hodge they have a player that is capable of scoring at a run a ball from the top 3 and last to the death to hit out, something which Shaun Marsh struggles to do. Marsh is essentially the backup opener but it is hard to find someone that is in better form than Hodge at the moment.
What could count against Hodge is his last ODI series which happens to be where the World Cup is being held. In that series he scored 59 runs at 10 with a strike rate of 55 from 6 innings, his worst International series. He was moved around the order which never helps a player but you have to take your opportunities in the Australian setup.
Hodge will struggle to break into the starting 11 with only the number 7 spot open which wouldn’t suit Hodge’s game not to mention the selectors like filling that spot with an all rounder. Also Callum Ferguson would be a better fit for that spot. His ideal spot is filled by captain Ricky Ponting which is definitely not up for grabs. The opening spot next to Watson could be a spot for Hodge but that would mean moving Haddin back down the order. In terms of making the 11, he will struggle but he would be a very handy backup option if required.
Two possible bolters lie in fellow Victorians – Aaron Finch and Matthew Wade. Finch lacks that hundred to really push his claim but he is an aggressive opener and is in the form of his life at the moment. Wade would provide a backup keeping option and he has played as a specialist batsmen before so he would offer the versatility that the selectors could be after. What he offers over current backup in Tim Paine is his aggressiveness, his career strike rate is 89.5 and his strike rate this season is 109 from 3 innings. He won’t let you down whether he is opening or batting at 7 which I feel is a weak point for both Haddin and Paine who have struggled to hit out at the death.
So if the selectors are after a backup opener then Hodge is the man they are after, in terms of backup keeper I would pick Wade over Paine.
Photo taken from Cricinfo.com
More...
