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Brad Hodge named as Ponting's stand-in

The Victoria batsman, Brad Hodge, has been named as Ricky Ponting's replacement for Australia's tour of India, which gets underway this weekend

Wisden Cricinfo staff
23-Sep-2004


Brad Hodge: call-up a reward for consistency © Getty Images
The Victoria batsman Brad Hodge has been named as Ricky Ponting's replacement for Australia's tour of India, which gets underway this weekend. Ponting, who broke his left thumb while dropping a slip catch during the Champions Trophy defeat against England on Tuesday, has flown home to Australia for treatment, and will miss the first Test at Bangalore.
Hodge, 29, who is currently on holiday in Queensland, has shown outstanding form for Victoria and Leicestershire over the last few seasons, and his call-up is due reward for his efforts. "We were looking at a specialist batsman to come into the squad for Ricky," explained Australia's chairman of selectors, Trevor Hohns. "Given Brad's consistency and his skills against spin bowling, he was the clear choice. He thoroughly deserves the opportunity and I'm sure he'll acquit himself well to the conditions if required."
Ponting, who hopes to become the first Australian captain since Bill Lawry in 1969-70 to win a Test series in India, was naturally gutted at his misfortune. "I'm obviously very disappointed, but have great faith in all of my team-mates to do the job in my absence," he said. "I'll do everything I can to get back as quickly as possible, but to achieve that I will have to be guided by the experts."
Ponting's bad break is not the only setback to Australia's preparations this week. It was announced on Thursday morning that Darren Lehmann would also be flying home to attend to a personal matter, although he at least intends to be back in India in time for the first warm-up match, against the Ranji Trophy champions, Mumbai, on September 30.
Ponting's prognosis is less clear, however, and the Australian team physiotherapist, Errol Alcott, said it was too soon to say when he would return to action. "We can't make any bold predictions about a return date for Ricky," he explained, adding that the final decision would be made by a hand specialist back in Australia.
"I desperately want to be on that plane to India," said Ponting, who endured a painful, sleepless night on Tuesday. "If everything goes according to plan, I'll still be able to play some part in the series, sooner I hope, rather than later.
"In the meantime, the boys know exactly what needs to be done because we have put a great deal of work into preparing for this tour. This series means so much to us all. It could be one of the biggest Test series ever played, so to be missing the start of it is really disappointing."
In Ponting's absence, Adam Gilchrist has been named as Australia's stand-in captain, while the young batsman, Michael Clarke, is the most likely man to fill his shoes in the middle order.