Hodge enjoying holidays with family and above average Twenty20 earnings

MELBOURNE - Victorian batsman is mixing his holidays with scoring hundreds and loving every minute of it.

Hodge, 35, is a cricketing soldier of fortune, signing contracts with the Victorian Bushrangers, the Kolkata Knight Riders in India and the Northern Districts in New Zealand.

Hodge is taking advantage of cricket’s new world order as most countries try to cash in on the Twenty20 craze by establishing domestic competitions.

He has also welcomed the opportunity of being able to spend more time with his family in between each contract, Fox Sports reports.

Hodge retired from first-class cricket last year to devote more time to his family, and to lengthen his career. The decision has paid handsomely already this season.

“I’m in a nice place. I can just relax and play cricket,” Hodge said.

“In two weeks, I am going to go up to Queensland, take my kids to the theme parks and have some fun, enjoy some time with my wife, and the other guys can field for 100 overs in a Sheffield Shield match. For me, it sounds like a pretty good deal,” he added.

Bushrangers coach Greg Shipperd said the hit-and-run nature of his appearances ensured Hodge remained fresh and enthusiastic.

And he expects a few of his more mature Victoria players to follow Hodge’s path.

“That’s happening now. It’s a good way to do it,” Shipperd said.

If anything, his snubbing by national selectors makes Hodge a more attractive prospect internationally.

Hodge’s manager Gerard Sholly said: “Most people in cricket know his circumstances. They know he is available.

Without making Hodge millions, Sholly said playing throughout the world provided Hodge with a “good living”, but more so, a good lifestyle. (ANI)