Brad Hodge believes Australia’s rivals will be sweating on the prospect of meeting his side in the coming Twenty20 World Cup.
Hodge underlined Australia’s batting depth in the recent T20 clash with South Africa in Durban, where he was batting at No.6 but flayed two sixes in the final over to seal a five-wicket win.
Australia have posted four T20 wins on the trot and will make it five if they triumph in the match at Centurion that starts at 3am AEDT on Saturday.
It is handy momentum to take into the World Cup in Bangladesh next week and 39-year-old Hodge believes other teams would have taken note.
“I would think that everyone looking at this Australian side would definitely be a little bit concerned when they come up against us,” Hodge said.
“With the firepower with the ball and the hitting artillery … we’ve got most bases covered.
“There’ll be a few teams worrying about us, instead of us worrying about others.
“But conditions will determine how people go, I don’t think you can sum up who’s going to be a threat until you’re over there.”
Proteas coach Russell Domingo identified Australia as being one of many genuine contenders at the tournament.
“It’s probably going to be one of the more open competitions,” Domingo said.
“I think there’s seven or eight teams that have a real chance of winning it. All the top Test-playing nations are very much in the mix.
“It’s hard to pick out one or two particular sides, they’re all very competitive and on their day can turn it on.”
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis described Australia as a “really dangerous side”.
David Miller, who ran out George Bailey in the match at Durban, suggested his side’s T20 battles with Australia would be an ideal tune-up for Bangladesh.
“Definitely. They’re on a high as a team,” hard-hitting batsman Miller said.
“For us to have this before the World Cup, we couldn’t ask for better competition.”
Bobbo7
Guest
Australia are a very strong side but as we saw with the Melbourne Stars that does not always matter at the pointy end. Should be interesting
Bobbo7
Guest
Spot on.
SteveOL
Roar Pro
I look forward to revisiting this comment when these two fire. Hodge is an out and out freak.
SteveOL
Roar Pro
I'm a 39 year old who has taken the last year off after hip surgery brought on from years of playing as an all rounder at a reasonable level. As I sit here typing with my groins and hips burning I can tell you, from where I sit, cricket is a young bloke's game. Younger than me anyway.
SteveOL
Roar Pro
Ditto
Alice
Guest
Especially considering that batsmen at least can play for much longer in cricket than they can in other sports. You don't see a great deal of 35+ year olds in soccer or AFL.
Jeff Cook
Guest
ak Please qualify what a "young mans game" is. As i understand it ,the game of cricket is all inclusive.
ak
Roar Guru
Brad Hodge. Brad Hogg. What are these old men doing in a young man's game? Odd men out. Johnson is out. So Australia will also be out. Early.
Talisman
Guest
Is the fact that belatedly Hodge & Hogg are playing for Oz again more evidence of Boof's influence? Hope so, because selections seem to have become a little more err, um, professional since he became coach.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Australia are a massive chance of winning this. They have more hitting power in their top order than any other side, an extremely long batting lineup, an incisive pace unit and a canny Chinaman bowler.
jameswm
Guest
Was just thinking the same thing!
I think tactically is where teams will win, most teams have stroke makers, if you let them bat you make runs, class players simply don't increase run rates enough, especially in shortened matches like was saw last night.
Pete
Guest
Note to the headline writer: Learn the difference between 'few' and 'a few'