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Hodge reveals 'upsetting' Adelaide exit

Veteran batsman details his side of the split with Adelaide Strikers and expresses desire to play on in BBL|07

Outgoing Adelaide Strikers skipper Brad Hodge has revealed he was told of his fate just hours after the club's final KFC Big Bash League match.

After another solid BBL season that yielded 286 runs at 40.85, the Strikers wasted no time in showing Hodge the door, according to the veteran right-hander.

Hodge signs off with super knock

Immediately after Adelaide completed a 77-run consolation thrashing of the Sydney Thunder, in which Hodge made 39 off 32, the 42-year-old was informed in the Spotless Stadium change-rooms that the club wouldn't extend his contract past BBL|06.

"I got sacked from Adelaide at 11.38 in the dressing rooms (at) Sydney Thunder after we won that game, which was disappointing," Hodge told EON Sports Radio.

"They told me, 'Sorry, we're going in a new direction and your services are no longer required'.

"Which was upsetting at the time because I felt like I'd really contributed a lot to Adelaide Strikers over the last couple of years and their success has been a part of that.

"But that's ok, that's life, you move on. I think it'll give me a really good opportunity to make an impact at another (club)."

Hodge steadies Strikers with half-century

While remaining a standout BBL player, Hodge has branched out into coaching over the past couple of seasons, and will again take the reins at Indian Premier League franchise Gujarat Lions for a second season.

The Victorian also coached the Cricket Australia XI during this summer's Matador BBQs One-Day Cup.

But Hodge insists he still has the hunger to play on in the BBL, despite admitting he would have considered retirement if his run-scoring ways weren't up to his usual standards during the recent BBL campaign.

"I love playing the Big Bash, it's always good fun," he said.

Hodge hands Strikers a strong start

"I came into this season with an open mind. If I couldn't contribute then that'd be enough but I certainly found that I could contributed well, probably better than I expected.

"In that sense, I'm looking to play on next year."

Hodge threw his hat in the ring to fill the vacant Hobart Hurricanes coaching position last month, potentially as a player-coach, after the Tasmanian club opted not to renew Damien Wright's contract in the wake of their second successive seventh-place finish.

Quick Single: Hodge eyes potential BBL move

The six-Test batsman explained how more than two decades in Australian cricket circles has helped mould him into a capable mentor.

"Over the course of these 20 years, I've been able to play under 20 different coaches and 29 different captains," he said.

Hodge's swashbuckling half-century

"And that's going to increase even more this summer.

"I find myself in a very blessed placed to be able to take the good bits and the bad bits from all those experiences, and try to put that into my own coaching philosophy.

"The feedback that I get from the players is that I do a good job, so that's really pleasing.

"Whether it's a future, we'll just have to wait and see."