Brad Hodge

Infobox cricketer biography
playername = Brad Hodge


country = Australia
fullname = Bradley John Hodge
nickname = Dodgeball
living = true
dayofbirth = 29
monthofbirth = 12
yearofbirth = 1974
placeofbirth = Sandringham, Victoria
countryofbirth = Australia
dayofdeath =
monthofdeath =
yearofdeath =
placeofdeath =
countryofdeath =
heightft =
heightinch =
heightm = 1.78
batting = Right-hand
bowling = Right-arm off spin
role =
international = true
testdebutdate = 17 November
testdebutyear = 2005
testdebutagainst = West Indies
testc

lasttestdate = 22 May
lasttestyear = 2008
lasttestagainst = West Indies
odidebutdate = 3 December
odidebutyear = 2005
odidebutagainst = New Zealand
odic

lastodidate = 17 October
lastodiyear = 2007
lastodiagainst = India
odishirt = 17
club1 = Kolkata Knight Riders
year1 = 2008–present
clubnumber1 =
club2 = Lancashire
year2 = 2005–present
club3 = Victoria
year3 = 1993/4–present
club4 = Leicestershire
year4 = 2003–2004
club5 = Durham
year5 = 2002
deliveries = balls
columns = 4
column1 = Tests
matches1 = 6
runs1 = 503
bat avg1 = 55.88
100s/50s1 = 1/2
top score1 = 203*
deliveries1 = 12
wickets1 = 0
bowl avg1 = –
fivefor1 = 0
tenfor1 = 0
best bowling1 = 0/8
catches/stumpings1 = 9/–
column2 = ODIs
matches2 = 25
runs2 = 575
bat avg2 = 30.26
100s/50s2 = 1/3
top score2 = 123
deliveries2 = 66
wickets2 = 1
bowl avg2 = 51.00
fivefor2 = 0
tenfor2 = n/a
best bowling2 = 1/17
catches/stumpings2 = 16/–
column3 = FC
matches3 = 211
runs3 = 16,005
bat avg3 = 48.06
100s/50s3 = 48/59
top score3 = 302*
deliveries3 = 5,175
wickets3 = 72
bowl avg3 = 40.01
fivefor3 = 0
tenfor3 = 0
best bowling3 = 4/17
catches/stumpings3 = 123/–
column4 = LA
matches4 = 214
runs4 = 7,322
bat avg4 = 40.90
100s/50s4 = 19/35
top score4 = 164
deliveries4 = 1,482
wickets4 = 38
bowl avg4 = 34.42
fivefor4 = 1
tenfor4 = n/a
best bowling4 = 5/28
catches/stumpings4 = 87/–
date = 17 September
year = 2008
source = http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/6/6237/6237.html CricketArchive

Bradley John Hodge (born 29 December 1974 in Sandringham, Victoria) is an Australian and Victorian cricketer. His high school was St. Bede's College in Mentone, Victoria. He is a right hand batsman who bats in the middle order, as well as a part time right arm off spin bowler.

First-class career

Hodge debuted for the Victorian Bushrangers as a 19-year-old and was nicknamed "Bunkie" by Dean Jones for the fact that he shared a bunkbed with his brother at the time of his debut.

Hodge played Lancashire League Cricket for Ramsbottom in 2000 and 2001 breaking the clubs batting record in 2001.

Hodge has played with County Cricket teams Durham, Lancashire and Leicestershire, where he made his highest first class score of 302*. During his time at Leicestershire he was accused of cheating by then Derbyshire captain, and now Lancashire team mate, Dominic Cork by claiming a catch although it appeared that he had stepped over the boundary rope in a Twenty20 match in June 2003 [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/129950.html Cricinfo - Cork slams 'cheat' Hodge and 'pathetic' Lamb ] ] [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/128849.html Cricinfo - Cork handed fine and suspended sentence ] ] . Hodge denied the accusation [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/129984.html Cricinfo - Hodge considers legal action over Cork's 'cheat' accusation ] ] .

Hodge scored many runs for Victoria and his consistency came together by the 2000-01 season where he was consistently overlooked for selection despite being one of Australia's premier domestic batsmen.

On 21 November 2007, playing for Victoria against Queensland, Hodge made his highest Pura Cup score of 286*. He and Nick Jewell had batted undefeated for the entire third day of the game, only the fourth wicketless day's play in the history of the competition.

He also became the first to score a century in Australian domestic Twenty20, scoring 106 off 54 deliveries for Victoria against New South Wales at North Sydney, January 21, 2006.

Australian career

After a long time waiting for an international debut, he finally debuted for the Australian team against the West Indies in November 2005 at Bellerive Oval, Hobart during the 2005-06 Test Series, becoming the 394th player to wear the baggy green for Australia.

Hodge scored his maiden Test century for Australia against South Africa in Perth on December 19, 2005. After ending the third day on 91 not out Hodge displayed some nervousness in media interviews about reaching his century, but by the end of the innings he managed to finish with an unbeaten score of 203. This innings was criticised by some Australian fans who felt that captain Ricky Ponting declared too late in allowing Hodge to chase his double century. This criticism came after Australia did not bowl out South Africa in the 4th innings (despite having 120 overs to bowl them out), with the match ending in a draw.

Hodge later made his One-day International debut and after two initial modest scores he scored a half-century. This earned him a recall for somes games against South Africa in the VB Series, however he failed to capitalise and was dropped from the ODI side with a recall looking very unlikely.

Despite his solid Test performances, Hodge was dropped after only 5 Tests in the team and only 3 Tests after scoring a double century for Australia's 2005/06 Test tour of South Africa. This decision was made on the back of some poor Pura Cup performances by Hodge, who averaged around 25 for the season. However, he was dropped in favour of Damien Martyn, whose Pura Cup averages for the season were even lower, and whose most recent Test series included an average of 19 in The Ashes series. Hodge had averaged 58 from his only 5 Tests in the side but in a surprise selection it was decided that Martyn would be selected based on his reputation as a prolific run scorer in past seasons for Australia.

Brad Hodge made 99 not out off 86 balls to steer Australia to victory against New Zealand on the 4th of February, 2007 when he was called into the team because Andrew Symonds had pulled out with a torn biceps.

On 18 February 2007 Brad Hodge scored 97 not out off 86 balls as he helped Australia to 4/336 off their 50 overs.

On 18 March 2007, in World Cup, Hodge scored his maiden one day century against Holland. He scored 123 off just 89 balls including 7 sixes and 8 fours in a record 4th wicket partnership with Michael Clarke.

On 24 March 2007, Hodge was dropped from the Australian ODI side starting 11 in the World Cup after making a century and being named man of the match in the sides last outing. Andrew Symonds, after recovering from a shoulder injury, was named as his replacement. Hodge later returned to the starting 11 when Shane Watson was injured.

He played for Australia in a Twenty20 against India on 1 February 2008.

Indian Premier League

On April 26, 2008, it was confirmed that Hodge would represent the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League for five weeks. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/counties/lancashire/7368740.stm BBC SPORT | Cricket | Counties | Lancashire | Lancashire star Hodge to join IPL ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.cricinfo.com Cricinfo]
* [http://www.cricketarchive.com Cricket Archive]