Was Brad Hodge unlucky or just not good enough?
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By Junior, 17 Dec 2009 Junior is a Roar Pro
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- Australian Cricket, Brad Hodge, Cricket
Brad Hodge has shut it down after 223 First-class matches at an average of 48.8. So long old boy, and thanks for the memories.
Thankfully we will no longer hear the nasally cries of Gerard Whateley and others on the issue. “What else does Brad Hodge have to do to make the Test team?”
I can think of one answer.
Be in the best six batsmen in the country.
A scan through the records shows that since Brad Hodge made his first class debut in 1993, 18 other specialist batsmen have made their Test debut, starting with Justin Langer in 1993 and ending with Marcus North in 2009.
Of these, only eleven have played more than 20 Tests. Of these eleven, only Greg Blewett’s average is below 40.
In terms of Hodge’s other contemporaries, Mark Waugh (128 Tests, average 41.8) debuted two years earlier and Damien Martyn (67 Tests, average 46.4) a year earlier. Two other batsmen that also played a decent chunk of their Test career after 1993 were Mark Taylor (104 Tests, average 43.5) and Steve Waugh (168 Tests, average 51.1).
So was Brad Hodge unlucky to have played only six Tests?
In the sense that his Test average was 55.9, that he may have held his own if given an extended run, and that he was arguably a better batsman than Greg Blewett (South Australia), the answer is yes.
On further analysis, however, the answer is a resounding ‘No’.
Firstly, strip out his unbeaten 203 versus South Africa at the WACA in 2005 and his Test average plummets to 33.3. Not so impressive.
Secondly, he wasn’t born in and didn’t move to New South Wales.
Ironically, this may have been a blessing for him. He may never have made the NSW Shield team given the vast pool of talent, meaning he would have played six less Tests.
Finally, for Hodge to have played significantly more Tests, at least one of the following batsmen would have had to have played significantly less: Langer, Martyn, Taylor, Michael Slater, Mathew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey and the Waugh brothers.
So who’s it going to be?
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RickG said | December 17th 2009 @ 7:04am | Report comment
Good analysis. I think there’s another issue here that rarely gets discussed. The careers of guys like Hodge and Katich (in his first spell in Test cricket) were hampered by Australia’s all-consuming search for an all-rounder. I know Katich was dropped after doing well to make way for Symonds, and I’m fairly sure the same happened to Hodge at some stage in favour of Symonds or perhaps Watson (who must have been given the most chances of any cricketer ever).
Brett McKay said | December 17th 2009 @ 7:18am | Report comment
Good analysis indeed, Junior. I’d have those ten you’ve named and Blewett in front of Hodge any day of the week, and twice on Day 1 of a Test. No-one denies Hodge could bat a bit, but ask Darren Lehmann, or Michael Hussey, or Marcus North about having to wait for a chance too. It’s about making the most of the opportunity if and when it comes, and not before, and on the basis that he was dropped after six Tests, the judgement on Hodge is that he obviously didn’t.
That’s not harsh, that’s international cricket..
Redb said | December 17th 2009 @ 7:33am | Report comment
Not good enough to replace most in that list. If he was younger he might get a run in the current team.
Hodge’s composure under Test level pressure was suspect, he never looked all that comfortable for mine.
Redb
Jeff Dowsing said | December 17th 2009 @ 7:53am | Report comment
Law, Love and Siddons – even M Hussey for some time, have also been unlucky, victims of being in an era of dominance we’re unlikely to ever replicate.
I think the perservering with Symonds at the expense of Hodge over the past few years is where this argument falls over. Take out Symonds’ long awaited big hundred and his test average of 40 becomes very ordinary too. Hodge also played other good innings at Test level – his last one he made 60-odd and 27, holding both innings together.
Furthermore, beyond the test team, the exclusion of Hodge from ODI’s & Twenty/20 internationals has been even harder to justify.
Some players it seems are burned for perceived weaknesses despite their record, others given chance after chance until they do succeed.
Tony from Northbridge said | December 17th 2009 @ 8:12am | Report comment
Simple question, simple answer – he was just not good enough. A cut above the rest at Shield level, a worthy replacement at Test level, no more. First class stats benefitted enormously from playing half his Shield matches on a dead MCG or Junction Oval.
Jeff Dowsing said | December 17th 2009 @ 8:49am | Report comment
An average of 55 would suggest a cut above most batsmen to have played at Test level. I know this is speculative, but over the journey, had he played the 30-40 tests he should have, I believe he would have averaged mid 40′s. Still better than a number of other batsmen we’ve feted over the years.
Chop said | December 17th 2009 @ 9:56am | Report comment
His average in test cricket was exaggerated by one dig of 203no in one innings which was almost half of his total runs from 10 or 11 bats. ( I only know this because we were having the same argument at the pub last weekend)
He was a good player but lost me when his mum came out and told the selectors he should be picked while the Aussies were in the middle of one of their runs of 16 victories in a row….
Jeff Dowsing said | December 17th 2009 @ 10:26am | Report comment
Geez, his mum was just being a typical mum! Relevance?
Chop said | December 17th 2009 @ 10:38am | Report comment
Jeff,
I said that was when he lost ME as a fan that’s the relevance because I am commenting.
How many test hopefuls mums do you see on the national news broadcasts talking up their sons?
Ziggy the God said | December 17th 2009 @ 10:47am | Report comment
Secondly, he wasn’t born in and didn’t move to New South Wales.
Not a truer word spoken.
Michael C said | December 17th 2009 @ 10:47am | Report comment
He was unlucky after his debut year – 93/94 as a young fella, but, the rest of the 90s was pretty ordinary. Only by 2000/2001 he started producing the goods consistanly and made Aust A squads. By this time though the Haydens/Langers/Martyns had all gone past him (they were all a couple of years older too.)
Hodge’s main lack of luck really seemed to be the feeble justification to return D.Martyn to the squad after Marto had been dropped and really HAD NOT shown any 1st class form to be recalled. It’s was the regular scenario – appearing as though any excuse was found to drop Hodge whilst any excuse was found to recall Martyn.
Let alone, that Martyn struggled, managed a 3rd test 101, and a couple of 2nd dig not outs – then failed with 4 & 7 vs the Banga’s, and facing up for a home ashes Martyo managed just 45 from 4 digs and made way for the selectors favourite Andrew Symonds…..another player the selectors seemed to fall in love with and consistantly find excuses to select.
For Hodge, well, he only earned himself 2 tests after his match double of 41 and 203* in Perth. 64 from 3 completed knocks, the odd thing is, Australia won this series 2-0. Normally – winning teams get a bit of leniancy. That Hodge was squeezed out at this time……that is the issue.
However, within a few months, J.Gillespie scored a double ton in what was to be his last ever test match.
That Hodge managed 1 further test in Jamaica, with 67 and 27, and that was it she wrote.
So, 6 tests, 11 bats, 2 not outs, and failed to make double figures just twice. No ducks.
Perhaps though, he’s lacked luck in the short form of the game. Often being the next man, only coming in to cover an injured/tired Ponting, or, being ignored entirely for the Aust T20 when clearly the test/ODI guys needed a break and Hodge was probably rated one of the best T20 players in the world (given most games played ‘domestically’).
At the end of the day – many batsmen benefit from the odd big innings and or unbeaten score. We know only too well that Mike Hussey and Michael Bevan in tests and ODI’s respectively became expert at not getting out and inflated thier averages.
Fisher Price said | December 17th 2009 @ 4:52pm | Report comment
Symonds should never have played a Test.