SA Footy

I feel for this guy, clearly has been one of this countrys best batsmen over the years, age is not on his side but I would love to see him come into the test team for a couple of years. The must have a allrounder policy ( even though im not good enough ) has cruely stopped Hodge from forging a prominent test career.

REB to thread.

IMHO Hodge is a very good player at Shield level but not quite good enough for Test cricket.

Of course he isn't .. why do you ask?

Time to bring some youth into the side. Not blokes who are 30 + who are hanging on for the cash that this game generates

I don't feel sorry for Hodge. He has been living off a double century made at Perth when he was dropped before he made fifty against a side with no spinner. He has been found out by spinners even at the domestic level and even though he has improved in this area in recent seasons in the domestic scene the thought of selecting Hodge to play against Murali, Harbijhan or Vettori does not inspire a lot of confidence.

Hodge has been an excellent player for Victoria and is one of those unlucky players but his recent comment about playing lawn bowls for Australia has effectively finished his career. Think back to Dean Jones, Wayne Phillips and David Hookes. Some ill timed comments saw them shut out of the international scene as soon as they were made.

As for playing in the test side, Hodge is not better than Hussey times two, Clarke, Ponting and he doesn't open the batting. He doesn't bowl so why should he be in the side.

With everyone fit my side would like this. Instead of trying to play dodgy 'all rounders' like McDonald it's time to elevate Haddin and Johnson and select five bowlers.

Katich
Jaques
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Haddin
Johnson
Lee
Siddle
McGain
Clark

Problem is a few of those blokes are injured or are carrying injuries of course so our next test side won't look like that. Maybe the next test side will look like this

Katich
M Hussey
Ponting
Clarke
D Hussey
Haddin
Johnson
Hauritz (unfortunately)
Siddle
Hilfenhaus
Bollinger

Either way. No room for Hodge. I reckon Rogers will have more right to be upset than Hodge if they select D Hussey in the middle or Marsh as the opener.

Nick Hodge, have a whinge.

regards,

REB

Adelaide Hawk wrote:Of course he isn't .. why do you ask?

He's played 6 Tests at a average of 56, is the all time leading run scorer for Victoria. Is a better batsmen than Symonds, Watson, McDonald,D.Hussey. Made a fighting 60 odd in his last test when Australia was under the pump. Got out to spin a couple of times in a Indian ODI tournament, he cant play spin was everyones excuse for him not getting picked after that. Got out to a couple of short balls against South Africa in Test cricket and he cant play short bowling was their excuse even though two games earlier ahd made a double ton. There is no doubt he is in our top six batsmen.

If you think there is no doubt then why ask the question? Seems to me that most of the people who have replied here agree that Hodge is not in the best 6 batsmen and the poll currently stand at 3 yes and 4 no. I'd say that indicates some doubt.

Hodge is a nicker. Get a ball that moves a bit and hes gone.

Ned wrote:

Adelaide Hawk wrote:Of course he isn't .. why do you ask?

He's played 6 Tests at a average of 56, is the all time leading run scorer for Victoria. Is a better batsmen than Symonds, Watson, McDonald,D.Hussey. Made a fighting 60 odd in his last test when Australia was under the pump. Got out to spin a couple of times in a Indian ODI tournament, he cant play spin was everyones excuse for him not getting picked after that. Got out to a couple of short balls against South Africa in Test cricket and he cant play short bowling was their excuse even though two games earlier ahd made a double ton. There is no doubt he is in our top six batsmen.

I knew he couldn't play spin before the Indian one dayers. It just confirmed what I already knew. When the Bushrangers were playing the Blues in a Franger cup match a few years ago Hodge came to the crease and Katich threw the ball to Hauritz and it was bye bye Bradley. It's not an excuse, it is a well known flaw. And no way is Nick Hodge a better bat than D Hussey IMO.

regards,

REB

Very good player, extremely unlucky, but sorry he's not what we need. Pass.

NFC wrote:Very good player, extremely unlucky, but sorry he's not what we need. Pass.

well said.

I never heard Siddons question the selectors about their reasoning of not picking him. In my opinion, with Australia in the situation they are in, he'd be about the last bloke I'd call upon - based on form and age.

Rik E Boy wrote:

Ned wrote:

Adelaide Hawk wrote:Of course he isn't .. why do you ask?

He's played 6 Tests at a average of 56, is the all time leading run scorer for Victoria. Is a better batsmen than Symonds, Watson, McDonald,D.Hussey. Made a fighting 60 odd in his last test when Australia was under the pump. Got out to spin a couple of times in a Indian ODI tournament, he cant play spin was everyones excuse for him not getting picked after that. Got out to a couple of short balls against South Africa in Test cricket and he cant play short bowling was their excuse even though two games earlier ahd made a double ton. There is no doubt he is in our top six batsmen.

I knew he couldn't play spin before the Indian one dayers. It just confirmed what I already knew. When the Bushrangers were playing the Blues in a Franger cup match a few years ago Hodge came to the crease and Katich threw the ball to Hauritz and it was bye bye Bradley. It's not an excuse, it is a well known flaw. And no way is Nick Hodge a better bat than D Hussey IMO.

regards,

REB

If hodge cant play spin then it just shows how bad Australia's spin bowling stocks have been in the past 15 years. Here is a guy that has made more runs than any other Victorian at shield level, yet the way REB makes it sound is if u bring on any spin bowler Hodge will be on his way to the pavillion next ball, what a joke, he plays spin better than Ponting and he's captain and the best batsmen in the world.

Ned wrote:
Ponting cant play spin either

No need for another then.

regards,

REB

Top six batsman my foot. It's not just the spin thing but the guy has always been far too self-centred. He almost always puts himself ahead of the team and if the team situation calls for it will try his hardest not to hit anything in the air and too often in one dayers and 20/20 cricket leaves up to whoever is at the other end to play the risky shots.

An extreme version of Damien Martyn.

Ned wrote:

Rik E Boy wrote:

Ned wrote:

Adelaide Hawk wrote:Of course he isn't .. why do you ask?

He's played 6 Tests at a average of 56, is the all time leading run scorer for Victoria. Is a better batsmen than Symonds, Watson, McDonald,D.Hussey. Made a fighting 60 odd in his last test when Australia was under the pump. Got out to spin a couple of times in a Indian ODI tournament, he cant play spin was everyones excuse for him not getting picked after that. Got out to a couple of short balls against South Africa in Test cricket and he cant play short bowling was their excuse even though two games earlier ahd made a double ton. There is no doubt he is in our top six batsmen.

I knew he couldn't play spin before the Indian one dayers. It just confirmed what I already knew. When the Bushrangers were playing the Blues in a Franger cup match a few years ago Hodge came to the crease and Katich threw the ball to Hauritz and it was bye bye Bradley. It's not an excuse, it is a well known flaw. And no way is Nick Hodge a better bat than D Hussey IMO.

regards,

REB

If hodge cant play spin then it just shows how bad Australia's spin bowling stocks have been in the past 15 years. Here is a guy that has made more runs than any other Victorian at shield level, yet the way REB makes it sound is if u bring on any spin bowler Hodge will be on his way to the pavillion next ball, what a joke, he plays spin better than Ponting and he's captain and the best batsmen in the world.

Are u serious he would have faced as much of Shane Warne as any as he played state cricket with him for a long time. Also he has played against Stuart Mcgill for a long time and i am pretty sure they are handy spin bowlers.

Please don't put words in my mouth Nedwin. All I said it is a well known flaw. I've seen it against the Bluebaggers and we all saw against India. Bye bye Nick.

regards,

REB

Its nice having REB bagging a DIFFERENT Hodge

This poll should have a third option. He is good enough to be in the top six, but im not sure if he is at the moment. Tough one imo

Hodge will tell you himself he's one of the country's top six.
And that he's the only one who works hard enough to be there...

Another flaw.