His love of the MCG has led to Victorian favourite Brad Hodge leaving the Melbourne Renegades and joining their cross-town rivals in one of three shock Big Bash League (BBL) defections on Thursday.
Hodge and dynamic allrounder Glenn Maxwell both switched camps from the Renegades to the Melbourne Stars in moves which will add even more of an edge to the start of the BBL’s second edition.
Teenage pace sensation Pat Cummins will also leave Sydney to link with the Perth Scorchers if his injury-plagued body and Cricket Australia allow him to play Twenty20 this season.
The Stars and Renegades will clash in the December 7 season-opener at Etihad Stadium – a venue T20 specialist Hodge just couldn’t warm to.
Speaking at the Stars’ headquarters at the MCG, the former Australian Test and one-day batsman admitted he expected to end his career with the Renegades but his heart was elsewhere.
“This is the reason why I’m back here – this is the MCG. It’s where I’ve played and it’s been my second home for 17 years of pretty much every match that I’ve played cricket,” said Hodge, who is also a MCC member and Melbourne Demons fan.
“I’ve spent a lot of time in the middle, spent a lot of time underneath in the dressing room and, for me, it just felt right to return to the MCG and probably finish off my career here.
“Driving along Beach Rd to go to Etihad last year didn’t have the same feel of driving up Punt Rd getting to the MCG before a match.”
Stars chief selector Ian Chappell sees the signing of the pair as an early win for the squad which is also looking to retain Shane Warne at 42.
It came as the Brisbane Heat announced South Australian allrounder Dan Christian had re-signed with them for the next three BBL seasons.
“Dan is a regular Australian player in waiting in all three formats and he is ready to break through in the next few seasons,” said Heat coach Darren Lehmann.
The Perth Scorchers strengthened their squad by signing Cummins and fellow young gun Mitchell Marsh, joining veterans Brad Hogg, Marcus North, Simon Katich and Mike Hussey.
The Hobart Hurricanes have re-signed former England batsman Owais Shah for the next two years after the 33-year-old scored 282 runs at 70.50 to fire them into the semi-finals last summer.
“I think there’s a strong feeling of unfinished business within the squad and I’m looking forward to getting back amongst the boys and preparing as best we can for the next campaign,” Shah said.
