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Australian batting coach Michael Di Venuto quietly announced this week that he will be stepping down from the role following the completion of the T20 World Cup. Fortunately for the national side, there is a perfect replacement for Di Venuto, and his name is Brad Hodge.
Hodge recently brought his stellar career to a close, following his appointment as head coach of the new Indian Premier League franchise Gujarat Lions.
After debuting for Victoria as a 19-year-old in 1993, Hodge’s astounding longevity and continuing strong form saw him selected for the 2014 T20 World Cup at age 39.
The man has done it all. Test cricket. One day internationals. T20 internationals. 19 years of state cricket. Nine years of county cricket with three different sides. IPL. Big Bash League. Pakistan Super League. Bangladesh Premier League.
The breadth of his experience is unrivalled in Australia.
While Hodge recently took up a coaching position with the prestigious Haileybury College in Melbourne, the lure of a role in the national setup may be enough to draw him back onto the international scene.
Aside from his long and successful career, Brad is also a no-nonsense, straight-talking guy who remains down to earth. I witnessed this first hand during BBL01, when I had the privilege of chatting with Hodge on a few occasions while working for the Melbourne Renegades. His approach to the game is the perfect combination of relaxed and focused, which would complement the Darren Lehmann regime nicely.
Hodge also demonstrated his coaching and leadership prowess this summer in his first season with the Adelaide Strikers, performing well with the bat while assisting greatly in the rapid development of Travis Head and Alex Ross, among others. His ability to relate to players young and old would be a great asset to a national side in the midst of a generational shift.
The choice for our next batting coach is simple. Put Brad Hodge in the role, and watch Steve Smith’s side continue to flourish.
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