Evergreen veterans Brad Hogg and Brad Hodge, with a combined age of 82, were on Tuesday called up to the Australia squad for the ICC World Twenty20, to be held in Bangladesh next month. The sprightly Hogg, 43, has been in top form in the domestic Big Bash League with his wrist spin proving hard to handle, while Hodge, 39, has been prolific with the bat for the Melbourne Stars in the same competition. If he takes the field, Hogg is set to become the oldest player in the history of international T20 cricket as Australia look for their first trophy after four unsuccessful attempts.
Another veteran, wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, 36, is also included for the March 16-April 6 tournament in a 15-man squad skippered by George Bailey and featuring Test stars Mitchell Johnson, David Warner, and Shane Watson. Hogg effectively drew the curtain on his international career following his final one-day international for Australia at the end of the 2007-08 summer, but he returned to play a handful of T20 internationals for Australia in 2012. While the squad has plenty of experience, there was also room for some young guns, including exciting leg-spinner James Muirhead, 20, who was only three when Hogg made his Test debut in India in 1996. Australia play the opening match on March 23 against Pakistan at Mirpur. But first go to South Africa for a series of warm-up internationals.
Australia George Bailey (c), Dan Christian, Nathan Coulter-Nile, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, B Haddin, Brad Hodge, Brad Hogg, Glenn Maxwell, J Muirhead, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, David Warner, Shane Watson, Cameron White
Another veteran, wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, 36, is also included for the March 16-April 6 tournament in a 15-man squad skippered by George Bailey and featuring Test stars Mitchell Johnson, David Warner, and Shane Watson. Hogg effectively drew the curtain on his international career following his final one-day international for Australia at the end of the 2007-08 summer, but he returned to play a handful of T20 internationals for Australia in 2012. While the squad has plenty of experience, there was also room for some young guns, including exciting leg-spinner James Muirhead, 20, who was only three when Hogg made his Test debut in India in 1996. Australia play the opening match on March 23 against Pakistan at Mirpur. But first go to South Africa for a series of warm-up internationals.
Australia George Bailey (c), Dan Christian, Nathan Coulter-Nile, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, B Haddin, Brad Hodge, Brad Hogg, Glenn Maxwell, J Muirhead, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, David Warner, Shane Watson, Cameron White