Hodge targets Australia recall

Brad Hodge © Getty Images

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Victoria's stand-in captain Brad Hodge believes he is in peak form and hopes the Australia selectors will take notice.

Hodge, who is Lancashire's overseas player for the 2008 season, smashed his way to an unbeaten 286 to help Victoria overcome a first-innings deficit and defeat the Queensland Bulls.

"They're playing pretty well at the moment and there's not too many openings," he said of the Australia line-up.

"I'm just considering playing well myself personally and doing the best I can."

Hodge has only made five Test appearances for Australia with an average of 58.42, and his short career includes a superb unbeaten knock of 203 against South Africa in Perth back in December 2005.

However, he knows what is required to get back into the mix for the national side.

"I've been in this situation before and what comes will come and if you keep making runs you're doing the right thing."

Regardless of whether Australia selectors consider him or not, Hodge will need to step up in the absence of Victoria skipper Cameron White, who has suffered a broken foot and will be out of action for at least four weeks.

But, given Australia's recent triumph in the two-Test series against Sri Lanka - in which the top order batted extremely well - Hodge faces a tough task to break into the squad for the upcoming Test series against India.