Cricket: T20's hired gun comes to town

Brad Hodge says he is in good form with the bat. Photo / Getty Images

Had he been born in another era, Brad Hodge could have been one of world cricket's stellar batsmen.

After all, he averaged 55.88 in his six test appearances, clubbing an undefeated double century against South Africa five years ago. But he was restricted to just 25 ODIs - which included one century along with a 99 not out and 97 not out against New Zealand at Melbourne and Auckland within 14 days in 2007.

He's scored more first-class runs for Victoria - 10,474, with 29 tons - than anyone and rates among his country's unluckier batsmen. Names like Ponting, Clarke, Hussey, Martyn and Symonds were in front of him and most were immovable.

So now Hodge has retired from first-class cricket and is something of a gun for hire in the racy T20 game. He's playing the first four rounds for Northern Districts in the HRV Cup, starting against defending champions Central Districts in Hamilton today.

Hodge has hit three hundreds in Australia's one-day competition this season.

"I'm in pretty good form and hopefully I can bring some of that into these matches," Hodge, 35, said.

He retired from the first-class play last Christmas and is enjoying a fresh lease on cricket life.

"I decided to go down a different path," he said. "I didn't have a great deal I thought I could achieve any more in four-day cricket or representing Australia and thought it was time to spend more time with my family [wife Meg, 4-year-old Jesse and 16-month-old Sophie]."

He's over the bruising treatment he received from Australia's selectors, although he figures he could do a decent job in the ODI side, and even at next February's World Cup. His numbers still put him among the most effective operators in Australia.

"I've had enough years stewing over it, you can't change what happened," he said. "Four people called selectors choose your fate and if they don't see what you see then unfortunately you don't play."

Hodge flies back to Melbourne tomorrow morning to play a one-dayer for Victoria against South Australia in Geelong, then returns on Sunday for ND's game against Auckland at Colin Maiden Park.

That's the modern T20 way - have bat, can travel - and Hodge enjoys the spark of new challenges.

"To be honest it's far more enjoyable than if I was playing four-day cricket next week and had little ambition to perform," he said.