Brad Hodge is hoping for an extended stay in the Australia team after making 60 on day three of his debut in Hobart in the second Test against West Indies. The 30-year-old made the most of his long-awaited bow, hitting nine fours in an assured 108-ball innings.
"It was very special, I thoroughly enjoyed the moment as nervous as I was.
"It was a nice feeling to get off the mark first ball - certainly everything I hoped it would be - and hopefully there'll be a few more," he said.
Hodge said advice from fellow Victorian Dean Jones and former Australia captain Steve Waugh had helped him settled in.
"Deano basically said watch the ball hard and, when you're nervous, remember to breathe and relax, while Steve said to back yourself and your ability will take care of itself," he revealed.
 |  Hopefully we can make Australia bat again |
"They sound like pretty simple things but you can sometimes forget them in a state of arousal."
There was no such excitement for the Windies, who were beaten by 379 runs in Brisbane and are heading for another thrashing in Tasmania.
Their pacemen fought back well, bowling out the Aussies for 406 after starting the day on 256-1, but the batting slumped again to 82-4.
Another 175 runs are needed to make Australia bat again and Fidel Edwards, who took 3-116, is hoping they will put up a fight.
"The tail hasn't been batting well but hopefully we can get some partnerships going, " the paceman said.
"Getting nine wickets today was a good comeback and hopefully things will get better. We've been doing more work on our batting."
MMIX
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