Brad Hodge, 40, is back in the nets preparing for the Big Bash League, and has carved a career as one of the best exponents of the bite-sized format. However, the former Victorian batsman concedes he will be remembered for having managed only the six Tests, despite averaging 55.88, including a double century against South Africa in Perth. He has never received a clear answer as to why he was not given an extended stay. While his technique was critiqued, politics, no doubt, were also involved.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Warner's rise
David Warner's growing interest in the business and welfare side of cricket could see the Australian vice-captain elevated onto the board of the Australian Cricketers' Association in the near future. Now he is Test vice-captain, Warner realises he has a greater responsibility to the game, and joining the ACA board would be one way of showing that. Should he ever get into a boardroom stoush with Cricket Australia, it would certainly be interesting viewing, for it's understood not everyone has forgiven or forgotten his bar room fight with Joe Root in Birmingham on the 2013 Ashes tour. CA is said to have had to have cancelled a VB sponsorship promotion the following day, wasting about $50,000.
Watto not writing
Shane Watson has told Pssst he has no intention of updating his autobiography, Watto, now his Test career is over. Watson had initially released the book in 2011, in which he detailed his exasperation with Cricket Australia's medical team and sought his own help in a bid to solve the soft-tissue injuries that had plagued his career. There would be plenty of juicy material in the years since, not the least being the failed "homework" saga of the 2013 tour of India when he was ruled ineligible for selection for the third Test, and returned home to be by the side of his pregnant wife, Lee. His true thoughts on Michael Clarke would also be a must-read.
Coffee cricket
Victorian Rob Quiney spoke publicly last week about his preference that the domestic one-day cup competition revert to a home and away format, rather than the tournament-style competition that has been employed over the past three summers. Save for a handful of games last year in Queensland, all the Bushrangers' games have been in NSW. The squad has remained in Sydney for the duration of the three-week event, and there's been little to do. We're told one player called his manager recently around lunchtime and claimed he had already gone out for three coffees, so bored was he by the streets of Sydney.
Playing for keeps
CA are believed to be working with a pair of wicket keepers to ensure they can wear playing gear they want. It's believed both keepers want to don specialised keeping helmets - as opposed to those worn while batting. The problem is that the helmets are not compliant with the new British Standards Institute standards, enforceable after the tragic death of Phillip Hughes last November. The governing body is seeking to ensure the helmets are approved for use. The issue is understandably a highly sensitive one with a coronial inquest set to be held into Hughes' death.
Paul's pics
The final day of the trade period is a maelstrom of speculation, suspense and perhaps most of all - scurrying journalists. The media pack waits at the exit of the club meeting area at Etihad Stadium as football managers and recruiting gurus exit, along with the odd player manager, and even coach. It's every woman and man for themselves in the jostling for positions. As Richmond football chief Dan Richardson was being grilled about what transpired in the haggling over Chris Yarran, Yarran's manager Paul Connors stood up on a chair and photographed the moment for posterity. Meanwhile Carlton's footy manager Andrew McKay waited patiently, knowing he was next in the queue to face questioning. After a few minutes McKay got his turn. With attention centred on McKay, Fremantle coach Ross Lyon discretely hurried out of the room - and the stadium. He appeared in no mood to discuss the Dockers' failure to land their key forward target Cam McCarthy, who remains at Greater Western Sydney. Once all the clubs had fled the scene (many cleverly doing so via another exit), the AFL made sure to move everyone out of the building quick smart. While last year there was a Jehovah's Witness convention taking place at Etihad the day after trade period, this year it was the Australian Speedway Grand Prix. In both cases, the media had to go.
Rohan's reward
Our award-winning colleague and Age football writer Rohan Connolly has been enjoying some well-deserved time off travelling with his partner around Europe since the grand final. He arrived last week in Amsterdam and checked into an apartment he had rented. Rohan was very happy with the accommodation offered by landlords Nellie and Bennie Muller. Upon chatting with them it was soon apparent that these were no ordinary hoteliers. Bennie is a former soccer star with Ajax, who is a friend and former teammate of the legendary Dutch striker Johan Cruyff. Bennie was capped 47 times for the Netherlands, played in a European Cup final, and came up against the likes of Pele, Eusebio and Ferenc Puskas. Needless to say sports-loving Rohan was chuffed, especially with the Mullers' collection of memorabilia.
Fitz'n'starts
Pssst wrote in March about former Southern Stars fast bowler and Australian women's cricket coach Cathryn Fitzpatrick, who departed her post in March and was replaced by Matthew Mott. While Fitzpatrick is now the CA women's youth coach, one close observer noted how she hadn't got a job with the new Women's Big Bash League teams ahead of that league's inaugural season. It mightn't be that surprising. Fitzpatrick's departure is believed to have come about as a result of player power, with certain team members heading to the CA board at the time to voice their concerns with her management style.
THE WATCHMAN
9 minutes to midnight for... Essendon
... with the club finally catching a break given the timing of Jake Carlisle's indiscretion. St Kilda, not so much.
LOCAL HERO
A local hero who crossed International boundaries has been in the thoughts of the soccer world this week, with Dutch football great Johan Cruyff diagnosed with lung cancer. The 68-year-old who captained the Netherlands to the World Cup final in 1974, retiring in 1977, has been in and out of hospital in recent months.
NUMBERS UP
10 -place grid penalty for Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel gives three-time world Formula One champ Lewis Hamilton a big chance of sealing his fourth title at Austin's US Grand Prix today.
9 -point margin over Vettel and a two-point margin over his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg will make Hamilton the first Briton to win back-to-back championships.
2 out of the past three Austin races have been won by 30-year-old Hamilton, with another win likely seeing him take the title with three races to spare.
Got a tip? Contact Daniel Cherny or Jon Pierik. Twitter: @danielcherny or @pierik_agesport
