From memory Hodge got left out of a Test tour just after scoring that 200 against the Saffers and Martyn got the spot after an atrocious Shield summer. I remember Hohns on the radio and he basically couldn't justify it at all.
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What do you do with Shane Watson?
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From memory Hodge got left out of a Test tour just after scoring that 200 against the Saffers and Martyn got the spot after an atrocious Shield summer. I remember Hohns on the radio and he basically couldn't justify it at all.
I don't understand what the 'gone' bit means. Are you referring to the fact that none of them are still playing for Australia?
I see Johnson had the new ball taken off him that match. I remember that more than I remember much about the batting as I recall Stuart Clark being really pissed off that Johnson got the new ball in the first place.
Demosthenes
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FFS, are Victorians still whinging about Hodge?
He was probably hard done by to be dropped for Martyn the first time, but it was at a time when the team could afford to carry a batsman and valued team cohesion over whatever extra Hodge offered. Hardly the first victim of that in Australian cricket, and certainly won't be the last. After that he pretty much spat the dummy, confirmed the rumours of what a shit bloke he is behind the scenes, and put the nails in the coffin of his own Test career.
If it wasn't for the state he played for he'd have been rightfully consigned to the dustbin of history years ago. You don't see South Aussies still bitching about Jamie Siddons, or Queenslanders about Stu Law.
He was probably hard done by to be dropped for Martyn the first time, but it was at a time when the team could afford to carry a batsman and valued team cohesion over whatever extra Hodge offered. Hardly the first victim of that in Australian cricket, and certainly won't be the last. After that he pretty much spat the dummy, confirmed the rumours of what a shit bloke he is behind the scenes, and put the nails in the coffin of his own Test career.
If it wasn't for the state he played for he'd have been rightfully consigned to the dustbin of history years ago. You don't see South Aussies still bitching about Jamie Siddons, or Queenslanders about Stu Law.
If he'd played for NSW or WA he would have got a look in close to 15 years ago and would have played at least 60 tests. Hard done by to get dropped in the first place? Yeah you could say that, dropped for a guy who retired 6 tests later because he was 'done', regardless of his form several years earlier. It goes into the whole Symonds/Watson/Haddin/Hodges/Ponting/Clarke CA wtf bin. I guess it's been hard since the golden period ended when the national team was winning 20 tests in a row. Even during that time Martyn was somewhat of a lightning rod until Waugh retired and he cemented his spot.
Disappointing that Jaques wasn't able to get back into the team with his crook back. He would have reduced the impact that rubbish openers had on the team for a while.
I don't remember much from that series but I remember around that time that Johnson was erratic like Brett Lee but could certainly take wickets in a hurry.
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The_Reaper
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Hodge was unlucky that post 2005 Ashes our selectors gained an obsession with playing an Allrounder.
It's Symonds he missed out to.
It's Symonds he missed out to.
Demosthenes
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Keep believing that.
He had perceived weaknesses against the short ball, and was a shit bloke to boot. Nothing to do with what state he played for.
Demosthenes
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Well that doesn't surprise me.
Shane Watson has a glaring weakness to straight deliveries, especially so that his most common mode of dismissal is LBW by some margin. Haddin has the weakness of dropping balls and constantly playing through the air. Phil Hughes couldn't stay in and got out every conceivable way. Warner is easily done with full and wide deliveries. Rogers can't face short balls. Shaun Marsh and Voges are just shit.
'Perceived' weakness is a strong word, considering that he's scored more than 10k runs at Shield level. There are few players who've scored as many and even fewer that haven't had international success.
But then again, he has 200+ not out, more than a few shit blokes and shit players in years' past have scored, certainly more than Watto or Martyn scored, 2 players thought of being better, or at least to have played more test cricket; we will never know since he never had an opportunity to cement his position. Martyn scored 4,400 runs just shy of 110 innings, nothing to sneeze at, but certainly helped by his purple patch. He was patchy until then but had that break out 12 month patch, then reverted back to his normal level; shit but just not quite shit enough to be dropped. Hodge managed 500+ runs in 11 innings. Sure, take that 203 out and it's just 300 over 10 innings, doesn't look as good as some other players, but isn't far from par for a batsman establishing themselves at international level. But hey, might as well throw in that he was never out for a duck and he scored less than 20 runs 3 times.
Anyway, arguing on the internet is like running in the special Olympics.
Yes and no. His form was incredibly inconsistent and the 1 saving grace was that he was an excellent fielder and capable of hitting runs. Sort of like Watson being a good fielder and a decent bowler, at least then, who could hit runs. A lot of his behavioral issues could have been avoided had CA taken a proactive approach.
But then again CA don't really give 2 shits if they're winning as long as money is lining their pockets. But as soon as the team starts losing...
I think perhaps they saw what was going to happen post McGrath and Warne to be honest. You only needed 4 bowlers with them two in the side, stock and strike bowlers in one. You look at our side now and we have two strike quicks and a stock quick, we definitely need an allrounder right now, thank **** for Mitch Marsh.
Demosthenes
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The team was good enough that they could afford the luxury of omitting someone like Hodge because he was a shit bloke, or reselecting an established team man like Martyn, for the sake of team unity. Then they decided they wanted a fifth bowler and there was no room for him. Pretty simple.
When the team was bad enough that they might have needed someone like Hodge, he'd already spat the dummy and made himself unselectable.
Really, the only person Hodge has to blame for his short Test career is himself. Maybe if he wasn't such a tosspot he'd have played more cricket for Australia.
Well when you consider who our captain is I wouldn't say the Test side has a "no dickhead" policy.
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If we're expanding it to FC level in general (rather than just Sheffield Shield), there'd be a number of English and Indian batsmen who have scored that many FC runs and had short, non-existent or unsuccessful Test careers.
I think some of us have a played at a decent level [emoji57]
Good to see you've attended the Mick Malthouse school of endearing yourself to people.
Bradesmaen
TheBrownDog
What to do with Shane Watson? Bring him back immediately for Darsh.
Demosthenes
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Clarke is far more liked in the dressing room than Hodge ever was. Which says a lot about Hodge, given how many issues Clarke has had.
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Bring him in for one last shot at the big time.
It wouldn't surprise me if they did.
Bloody ridiculous but all bets are off.
The problem with Marsh is that he isn't a Test quality # 6. If you have a good batting line-up you can hide this face, but we don't. He averages 32 in FC cricket, for goodness sake, and has a dreadful technique to face the moving ball. He's no Martyn, Ponting or S. Waugh. We really need to someone in this position to play a steady hand, but no one is banging the door down.
The only reason he averages 32, is because he started as a 17 year old. In the last year he averages 50.
I understand that. But playing one good season shouldn't be enough to get into the Test side in a perfect world, especially with his awkward technique that just screams 'no good' against a moving ball. I think he's a better bowling than batting prospect at the moment. He's been exposed by dreadful dismissals. Always to be expected, though.
Sending out an SOS to Watson!
Bradesmaen
TheBrownDog
Since when? Take out the games against English Grade cricket sides and he averages 26 in 14/15. He had one good season in FC with the bat. He's been ok with the ball though. He's getting by on the old golden ticket system of Cricket Australia rather than by performances.
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