Australian veteran Brad Hodge earns Twenty20 recall for remaining ties vs England

Sydney –  Veteran batsman Brad Hodge was Thursday recalled to Australia’s Twenty20 squad, boosting his chances of playing in the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh in March-April.

The 39-year-old, who has been in outstanding form for the Melbourne Stars in the domestic Big Bash League, was called up to replace all-rounder Moises Henriques, who is heading to South Africa to join up with the Test team, Cricket Australia said.

Hodge played six Tests and 25 one-day international for Australia between 2005 and 2008 but has been overlooked since.

He will join the squad for the final two Twenty20s against England, in Melbourne on Friday and Sydney on Sunday. Australia won the opening match in Hobart on Wednesday by 13 runs.

Hodge’s big hitting was vital for Rajasthan Royals making the semis of the 2013 Indian Premier League and the finals of the 2013 Champions League T20.

The ICC World Twenty20 starts in Bangladesh on March 16.