Hodge draws curtain on first-class career

Victorian batsman Brad Hodge has announced he will retire from first-class cricket following the Sheffield Shield match against NSW in Newcastle, to be played December 18-21.

He will continue to play for Victoria in the Ford Ranger Cup and KFC Twenty20 Big Bash and be available for Australian selection in these forms of cricket.

Hodge, who turns 35 at the end of the month, will draw the curtain on a stellar first-class career spanning an incredible 17 seasons which began as an 18 year-old in 1993/94.

The wunderkind produced an outstanding debut season, making 991 runs at an average of 52.16. He will finish as Victoria’s record holder for most first-class appearances and most runs.

“I feel the time is right to step down from first-class cricket,” he said.

“It’s been a wonderful journey, which hopefully has more to go at limited overs and Twenty20 level. I’ve loved every time I’ve pulled on the navy blue cap and it was a dream come true to swap it for a baggy green for the times I did. Playing Test cricket for Australia was an incredible experience and I feel proud and blessed to have had that opportunity.

“Hopefully this decision will allow me to continue playing good cricket and also spend more time with my young family.”

Cricket Victoria Chief Executive Tony Dodemaide, who was a teammate of Hodge’s in his early years, praised the right-hander’s contribution at first-class level.

“Brad Hodge has been a champion player for Victoria who has achieved almost every honour available,” he said.

“Throughout his career he has shouldered the bulk of the batting responsibilities, maintaining an excellent record and playing a huge role in Victoria’s success over that time.”

“He’s set high standards for himself and the team and performed strongly at Test level. Hopefully he can add to his appearances at international level and continue to contribute strongly to the Bushrangers in the shorter versions of the game.”

The first ball Hodge faced for Melbourne CC at Premier Cricket level was delivered by Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer and former University opening bowler James Sutherland. The two were later teammates at Melbourne. Sutherland also paid tribute to Hodge.

“Brad has been a remarkable first-class cricketer for 16 years since the time he came into the Victorian side at the age of 18,” he said.

“I have had the good fortune to know him since before he became one of Victoria’s most popular and enduring cricketers and characters and admire the way he has carried himself personally as well as they way he has performed on field.

“Like every fan in the state, I look forward to seeing him continuing to play white ball cricket for a while yet.”

Hodge played six Tests for an average of 55.88, with a highest score of 203 not out against South Africa in Perth.

Hodge played a key role in Victoria’s winning Pura Cup/Weet-Bix Sheffield Shield sides in 2003/04 and 2008/09, averaging 73.41 and 61.77 in the respective seasons. He has also played in two domestic limited overs titles for the Bushrangers.

He was awarded the Dean Jones Medal as Victoria’s best one-day player in 2002-03 and 2003-04, and also won the T20 medal in 2008-09.

Hodge enjoyed considerable success in County cricket as well.

Brad Hodge Statistics

Born: December 29, 1974; Sandringham, Victoria.
Age: 34 years, 336 days.
Nickname: Bunky, Dodgeball, Hodgey.
Right-hand top order batsman, off-spin bowler.

Teams: Australia, Durham, Kolkata Knight Riders, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Victoria, Melbourne CC

	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	4s	6s	Ct
Tests	6	11	2	503	203*	55.88	965	52.12	1	2	60	1	9
ODIs	25	21	2	575	123	30.26	657	87.51	1	3	51	12	16
T20Is	8	5	2	94	36	31.33	77	122.07	0	0	5	3	3
First-class	222	386	38	17012	302*	48.88			51	63			127
List A	226	216	27	7902	164	41.80			23	35			89
Twenty20	73	70	11	2366	106	40.10	1822	129.85	1	17	257	56	28

FIRST CLASS CAREER FOR VICTORIA

Season	M	I	NO		Runs	HS		Ave	100	50		Runs	W	Ave	BB	Ct
1993/94	11	21	2		991	106		52.16	1	8		53	2	26.50	1/2	6
1994/95	10	19	2		457	116		26.88	2	1		62	2	31.00	1/2	4
1995/96	5	9	1		174	43		21.75				0	0			0
1996/97	7	14	0		282	51		20.14		2		206	4	51.50	2/41	7
1997/98	7	14	1		494	116	*	38.00	1	2		290	9	32.22	4/92	3
1998/99	10	18	1		706	120		41.53	2	5		120	1	120.00	1/55	8
1999/00	11	20	3		423	96		24.88		3		200	1	200.00	1/80	5
2000/01	12	21	3		1107	134	rh	61.50	5	3		249	9	27.67	3/19	7
2001/02	10	18	3		858	140		57.20	4	2		181	2	90.50	1/0	4
2002/03	10	16	1		503	183		33.53	1	1		138	2	69.00	1/8	6
2003/04	11	20	3		1248	264		73.41	5	4		74	0			5
2004/05	8	15	1		891	204	*	63.64	3	4		111	3	37.00	1/8	5
2005/06	8	14	0		610	177		43.57	2	3		59	1	59.00	1/11	3
2006/07	6	11	2		765	153		85.00	2	5		9	0			1
2007/08	9	17	1		762	286	*	47.63	2	3		104	2	52.00	2/38	7
2008/09	9	14	1		803	261		61.77	2	4		157	2	78.50	1/49	2
2009/10	2	2	0		204	195		102.00	1			48	0			2
TOTAL	146	263	25		11278	286	*	47.39	33	50		2061	40	51.53	4/92	75

 

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