Victorian batsman Brad Hodge believes he deserves to be part of Australia’s limited-overs squads more than some of his peers and fears he might not play again for his country.
Hodge was on Thursday disappointed to be overlooked for the national Twenty20 and one-day squads for the coming matches against South Africa, despite another great limited-overs season.
He vented some of his frustration by smacking 73 from 54 balls against Western Australia in the Twenty20 game at the MCG Thursday night and afterwards claimed he deserved another call-up ahead of some rivals.
“The idea to be selected for Australia is to score runs, isn’t it?” he said.
“That’s what I’ve done.
“On that you’d think I was a good chance to play.
“If you look at the criteria there’s some guys in that side which mightn’t have done as well as I have.”
Hodge has scored more runs in the domestic Twenty20 competition than anyone else this summer.
His tally of 195 runs is well clear of Queensland’s James Hopes (103), NSW’s David Warner (101) and WA’s Shaun Marsh (68), who were all included in Australia’s Twenty20 squad.
In 50-over cricket, Hodge (264) is also well clear of Hopes (205) and Marsh (151), who are among the players likely to bat high in the order.
Hodge said his being overlooked for national sides was a “common occurrence” of late and admitted that, at 34, he might never play for Australia again.
“I’ve no idea and I don’t know and I don’t think so,” he said.
“The disappointing thing about that was I played well in that Test match in the West Indies (in May, when he replaced the absent Michael Clarke).
“Australia were under pressure and I scored well, I scored 67 and (27) in the second innings.
“My performances for Australia have always been pretty good.
“My credentials are there, but unfortunately the knock on my door is not coming my way.”
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