Brad Hodge (The worlds most hard done by batsman)

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Nostromo

There is no question that at Test level Hodge is a much better prospect than Symonds. Hodge is a much better and more reliable batsman and a good fielder in his own right. I don't think his limited spin bowling is an issue;

Agreed - if Flintoff for any reason was not available to play for England anymore - I would hope England would not keep searching for another all-rounder like the Australia selectors have, had Symonds been a genuine pace bowler - then maybe that would have tipped my thinking, but as it is - Symonds in Tests would make way for Hodge.

[Quagmire]

In test cricket Symonds is a batsman that can be used to bowl a spell of tight bowling while the main bowlers rest. In ODI cricket he is an genuine allrounder. Hodge is a handy offspin bowler who may not get lots of wickets in oneday domestic but when he is on top of the batsman with the ball he stays on top and bowls quite a tight spell, very handy in twenty20 aswell