Brad Hodge calls it quits to 24 year old cricket career

The right-hand batsman played six Tests, 25 ODIs, and 15 T20Is for Australia scoring 503, 575, and 183 runs respectively. He managed 7406 runs in all T20 games and in 223 first-class matches he amassed an impressive 17084 runs but appendicitis complications forced him to bid adieu the game.

“This will be the end of the road. I’ll represent (Melbourne club) East Sandringham in the finals and that will be it for my cricket career,” Hodge told News Corp.

“Technology now keeps you up and about, but (the doctor) stated that 30-40 years ago it could have been the end of the road. Time-wise for me, I was probably fortunate I went in (to hospital) on the Saturday in Melbourne. If I’d left it another 24 hours it could have been a lot worse. The surgeon didn’t paint a great picture of what was happening inside there.”

Hodge has been considered as one of the best players in the shortest format of the game and apart from the Renegades, he also represented Rajasthan Royals, Kochi Tuskers, Kolkata Knight Riders, Guyana Amazon Warriors, St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots, Peshawar Zalmi, and Adelaide Strikers in a long T20 career. He also worked for Gujarat Lions as the head coach and in December 2017, he served as the coach of Kings XI Punjab.

Because of his health issues, he missed Melbourne Renegades’ last two games in the league phase and their semi-final against Adelaide Strikers in the ongoing league.

“It’s a good fun time, I love being involved and I really look forward to it,” he told bigbash.com.au.

“My thoughts on playing are if you can’t make an impact, then don’t play. If I can’t do what I have to do on the field, then I’ll walk off and pack it in.”