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Hodge snubbed as selectors go for youth
Michael Gleeson
January 9, 2009
PROLIFIC Victorian batsman Brad Hodge's hopes of representing Australia again reside with a call-up to the Test team after he was overlooked for one-day and Twenty20 squads that are project teams for the coming World Cups.
Hodge, the third-highest all-time runscorer in domestic one-day cricket who blasted 73 off 54 in last night's Twenty20 clash with Western Australia, was clearly considered too old at 34 for squads pitched towards youth.
While Hodge will be left wondering whether he was now out of national contention, teammate Cameron White had his own fears allayed that after being dropped following the recent Test tour of India that he might have also fallen out of favour as a short-game player.
White was selected in both of the 20-over and 50-over game squads for the coming matches against South Africa.
"I wasn't sure whether I was going to be picked, to be honest, so it was a good feeling to know you are still in the mix," White said, admitting that he was uncertain where he figured in the minds of the selectors after the India tour.
"Especially at that Test level (he felt uncertainty) and I was hopeful I would still be in the mix at Twenty20 and the one-day level so it is good to know I am still wanted at the moment, so it is up to me now to do well."
White conceded he might now be viewed as a short-game-only player but it was up to him to prove otherwise.
Victoria has been the domestic benchmark in all forms of the game in recent seasons, but has been particularly dominant in the shortened versions, a point reflected in White's selection and that of exciting batsman David Hussey in the national team.
But the omission of Hodge, with Australian chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch declaring the squads a "clear indication of full-scale planning for the 2009 World Twenty20 and the 2011 World Cup", must indicate Hodge's opportunities in those games will now be slim.
West Australian Shaun Marsh was selected in the two squads as a middle-order batsman despite a form line that pales against Hodge's.
Marsh has made 151 runs at 25 this summer in six domestic 50-over games and just 43 runs in three Twenty20 games. Hodge has meanwhile made 264 runs in six 50-over games at 52 and 195 runs at 65 in four Twenty20 games.
Hodge has not played for Australia's limited-over side now since playing against India in Mumbai on October 17, 2007. He played a Twenty20 game for Australia against India in February last year.
"They're going for the next breed now, the Shaun Marshes and David Warners. I think they see Brad Hodge as a good player, but sadly, it looks like they've moved past him. Sadly I think the message is pretty clear there," former teammate Darren Berry said.
Former Test player now cricket coach and media commentator Damien Fleming said Hodge was still a realistic candidate for a Test batting position. "Reading into Hilditch's comments, he is going to struggle with the Twenty20 side of things and the one-day squad but for the Tests you have to remember he made a handy contribution in the West Indies and that was only six months ago," Fleming said.
Michael Gleeson
January 9, 2009
PROLIFIC Victorian batsman Brad Hodge's hopes of representing Australia again reside with a call-up to the Test team after he was overlooked for one-day and Twenty20 squads that are project teams for the coming World Cups.
Hodge, the third-highest all-time runscorer in domestic one-day cricket who blasted 73 off 54 in last night's Twenty20 clash with Western Australia, was clearly considered too old at 34 for squads pitched towards youth.
While Hodge will be left wondering whether he was now out of national contention, teammate Cameron White had his own fears allayed that after being dropped following the recent Test tour of India that he might have also fallen out of favour as a short-game player.
White was selected in both of the 20-over and 50-over game squads for the coming matches against South Africa.
"I wasn't sure whether I was going to be picked, to be honest, so it was a good feeling to know you are still in the mix," White said, admitting that he was uncertain where he figured in the minds of the selectors after the India tour.
"Especially at that Test level (he felt uncertainty) and I was hopeful I would still be in the mix at Twenty20 and the one-day level so it is good to know I am still wanted at the moment, so it is up to me now to do well."
White conceded he might now be viewed as a short-game-only player but it was up to him to prove otherwise.
Victoria has been the domestic benchmark in all forms of the game in recent seasons, but has been particularly dominant in the shortened versions, a point reflected in White's selection and that of exciting batsman David Hussey in the national team.
But the omission of Hodge, with Australian chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch declaring the squads a "clear indication of full-scale planning for the 2009 World Twenty20 and the 2011 World Cup", must indicate Hodge's opportunities in those games will now be slim.
West Australian Shaun Marsh was selected in the two squads as a middle-order batsman despite a form line that pales against Hodge's.
Marsh has made 151 runs at 25 this summer in six domestic 50-over games and just 43 runs in three Twenty20 games. Hodge has meanwhile made 264 runs in six 50-over games at 52 and 195 runs at 65 in four Twenty20 games.
Hodge has not played for Australia's limited-over side now since playing against India in Mumbai on October 17, 2007. He played a Twenty20 game for Australia against India in February last year.
"They're going for the next breed now, the Shaun Marshes and David Warners. I think they see Brad Hodge as a good player, but sadly, it looks like they've moved past him. Sadly I think the message is pretty clear there," former teammate Darren Berry said.
Former Test player now cricket coach and media commentator Damien Fleming said Hodge was still a realistic candidate for a Test batting position. "Reading into Hilditch's comments, he is going to struggle with the Twenty20 side of things and the one-day squad but for the Tests you have to remember he made a handy contribution in the West Indies and that was only six months ago," Fleming said.
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