wares

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SUCH has been the ease with which the Melbourne Stars have demolished virtually all opposition, the best batsman in the Big bash League hasn't even been able to get a hit on a couple of occasions.

It doesn't matter if you're a kid in the school team or an elite-level veteran, that can get frustrating - and Brad Hodge is no exception.

"There have been nights when I have just sat there and shaken the hands of the guys at the end," he said Monday.

"That can make it tough to maintain momentum."

So when he got to captain the all-conquering green machine for the first time, the first thing he did was make sure that wasn't going to happen again.

In Cameron White's absence, he won the toss, assigned himself to open the batting and top-scored. Again.

Hodge survived a couple of early miscued hoicks but turned on his usual masterclass after that to get 61 off 43 balls, a strike-rate of 141, with nine fours.

That was more than twice as many as any other batsman on either side could manage on a tricky, two-paced track, and just underscored for the umpteenth time his amazing ability to dominate this form of the game.

So it might as well be said one more time ...

One day very soon, chief selector John Inverarity is going to have to either pick him for the T20 World Cup - or explain to an incredulous cricket public why not.

Hodge was in a bit of an invidious position in that he had to defend an impressive unbeaten record with a makeshift team in which only himself, David Hussey, Luke Wright, John Hastings and, maybe, Peter Handscomb would get a game if the original squad was available.

And yet the Perth Scorchers, despite the motivation of playing for a home final, never got close, the 20-run margin a flattery.

In the circumstances, it was close to the Stars' best win yet - and that's saying something.

Hodge can take most of the credit, his leadership and tactics adding to his contribution with the bat.

With Cricket Australia pouring so much money and love into this competition, it seems strange they should compromise the spectacle so much by refusing to let players like White participate when they could easily have got to their national gig in time for training on Tuesday.

The absence of so many big names might have had something to do with the crowd totalling just over 16,000 in beautiful weather on a public holiday.

Hodge agreed it was far from ideal, saying: "The difference between the Indian premier League and this is that the stars play every game there, which is a really cool thing.

"Its unfortunate because everyone wants to play with the legends. I'd love them to be around but it just can't happen at the moment."

Hodge, who has captained Victoria and Leicstershire with success, said he had no misgivings about the team he had.

"I was just trying to keep the faith, keep the excitement and freedom and let those guys who haven't played express themselves," he said.

"It was fun coming to the MCG knowing you're going lead a bunch of youngsters, and its sort of half my job anyway because I'm the batting coach and I have to show them what to do.

"I just love contributing. It was good fun."

ron.reed@news.com.au

Twitter: @Reedrw

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