Bunky's in

I became a fan of Brad Hodge without knowing how he looked or how he played based merely on this piece he wrote at the time of making his long-cherished Test debut.

Like the more famous Mike Hussey, Hodge waited. And waited. It seemed like ever. It must have been even more difficult to see a rare spot open up and be swallowed up by someone else, who wouldn't let go. Brad Hodge got a Test 50 in his first innings, and a double century ^[1] soon after. He has an average of only 58, and that didn't help getting a place in the Ashes.

The ODI story was even worse. He makes 5 scores of five runs or less. Then Andrew Symonds injures a bicep hitting a flat six over point. He gets one last chance. Hits a 99*, after struggling (for confidence) in the first half of that astonishing innings. Helps win the match. Looks in control while batting. Stays in the team. Can't save the team in the finals, but seems increasingly assured. And here to stay. Oh, and he's a stunning outfielder. We'll see him in the World Cup for sure.

He's an irritating counter-example for those who would prefer to give up.

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1: I must apologise to my teammates at the last Pune Landmark quiz. When asked "as of now, who's the Australian batsman to have a double century in his last Test innings", in my silly admiration, I said "Brad Hodge" without too much pondering. It was Jason Gillespie of course, and well, that double ton hadn't even been in Hodge's last innings so far. Then, tt didn't seem to my anxious mind that he would be playing any more Test cricket, but now he definitely will.