Howrah News Service -  Latest news and headlines on Howrah,West Bengal and World: Jolt for Riders as Hodge leaves for national duty

Jolt for Riders as Hodge leaves for national duty
================================================================================
SportsDesk on 09 May, 2008 05:17:00
 
By Our Correspondents
New Delhi/Kolkata, May 9: The Kolkata Knight Riders will be without their
recent recruit Brad Hodge after Cricket Australia named the Twenty20 specialist
batsman as cover for vice-captain Michael Clarke who will not leave with the
rest of Ricky Ponting’s squad for their West Indies tour.
After Ponting and Kiwi stumper-batsman Brendon McCullum left the Indian Premier
League for national duties, the Knight Riders roped in Hodge in the second
auction to bolster their batting.
The Riders are currently in sixth place in the points tally and the
Australian’s contribution so far has been scores of 1 against Kings XI Punjab
and 10 against Bangalore Royal Challengers.
Hodge was summoned for national duty as Clarke will not depart with teammates
on Saturday after being given a ‘compassionate’ leave for private family
reasons.
Clarke’s date of arrival in the West Indies is currently unclear and in his
absence Hodge will act as his stand-by, CA chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch
said in a statement on Friday.
While Clarke’s father is fighting Hodgkin’s disease, it’s the grim
condition of Graham Bingle, father of the cricketer’s fiancee Lara, that
prompted the Australian vice-captain to seek leave. "Brad has had another strong
domestic season with the Victorian Bushrangers in all forms of the game. He is
still very highly regarded by the National Selection Panel and this provides him
with another opportunity to be involved with the Australian squad," Hilditch
said.
Meanwhile, the Knight Riders and Bangalore Royal Challengers were fined for
their slow over rates in their the Thursday night’s encounter at the Eden
Gardens. While the Royal Challengers were docked $1,000 by match referee Farokh
Engineer, Knight Riders were fined $500. The match was reduced to 16-over-a-side
due to rain. According to the playing conditions, which follow ICC rules, any
team with a slow over rate faces a $500 per over fine.
Dravid’s men were found two overs behind schedule while the hosts were one
over short.