Hodge ruled out
Mon, 16 November 2009
Victoria's batting superstar Brad Hodge has been ruled out of the Tuesday's Sheffield Shield clash against Western Australia at the MCG. Hodge, who has already scored three centuries for the Bushrangers this summer (two in the Ford Ranger Cup and one in the Vics' only previous Shield game so far this season in Adelaide), is battling hamstring soreness sustained while scoring a century against the Warriors in the 50-over game at the MCG on Saturday. And the Vics could also go into their first home Shield match of the season without skipper Cameron White, who may yet be rested having only just returned from representing Australia in the gruelling seven-match one-day tour of India. The reigning Shield champions will also be fielding a second-string bowling attack after Shane Harwood (shoulder) joined the resting Peter Siddle and injured pair Damien Wright and Dirk Nannes on the Bushrangers' long injury list. But such is the bowling depth in Victoria at present that the Bushrangers will still field a powerful attack led by Clint McKay, who made his Australian debut recently on the one-day tour to India, and former England Test paceman Darren Pattinson supported by all-rounders Andrew McDonald and John Hastings and veteran leg-spinner Bryce McGain. However Hodge will be far harder to replace as the Bushrangers decided on Monday not to risk him in the first of back-to-back home Shield games with the clash against Queensland to start just a week after the game against Western Australia is scheduled to finish on Friday. Victorian coach Greg Shipperd told Sportal on Monday that Hodge was sore following his recent run-scoring exploits. "He has spent a lot of time out in the middle," Shipperd said of Hodge, who turns 35 next month. "He was quite tired after the other night (against Western Australia in the Ford Ranger Cup) when you add his bowling to scoring a hundred so it's a difficult challenge (for him to back up)." Hodge's stellar batting form and continued omissions from Australian teams in all three forms of the game is dominating cricketing discussions in Victoria and skipper White admitted on Monday that his long-time team-mate could not be playing any better. "He has batted pretty well for the last three or four years if not longer and he is hitting them extremely well at the moment," White said. "Brad looks really relaxed playing his cricket and he is enjoying playing for Victoria and he is really helping out the guys as always." Hodge has played just six Tests, 25 one-day internationals and eight Twenty20 matches for Australia during his 17-year career and White says he can understand Hodge's disappointment at continually being snubbed by the national selectors. "Obviously I see Brad's frustration first hand but there is not much more he can do than keep scoring runs," White said. "As for the reasons he has not been picked, that is nothing to do with me - that is up to the selectors." Hodge has been replaced in the Vics' squad by Lloyd Mash, who is likely to be the 12th man if White decides to play but will come into the starting XI should the Victorian skipper opt to sit out the match following his recent heavy travel and playing schedule. Victoria: Cameron White (capt), John Hastings, David Hussey, Nick Jewell, Lloyd Mash, Andrew McDonald, Bryce McGain, Clinton McKay, Darren Pattinson, Robert Quiney, Chris Rogers, Matthew Wade. Western Australia: Marcus North (capt), David Bandy, Brett Dorey, Michael Hogan, Steve Magoffin, Josh Mangan, Shaun Marsh, Ashley Noffke, Wes Robinson, Luke Ronchi, Luke Towers, Adam Voges.
Paul Gough, Sportal
