Ian ConstantineBrad Hogg in test calculations!
October 29th 2007 04:52
Brad Hogg has terrorized the Victorian Bushrangers to give himself an outside chance of making the Test side to play Sri Lanka in just two weeks time.
A rank long-shot leading into the game, the left-arm Chinamen took 3-21 in the first innings and then backed that up with 5-62..
This giving him the impressive match figures of 8-83 off 30 overs.
The hypo 36-year old seems to be ageing like a fine wine. His performances for Australia’s limited overs side have been nothing short of amazing.
Hogg’s involvement at the top level has (not so) coincidentally coincided with the absence of Shane Warne. (how about that for alliteration!)
It was over a decade ago when Hogg made his debut in the Baggy Green. It was in India, why was he there? Warne was out injured… It is another case of born in the wrong era, for nobody was going to keep Warne out of the test side… He was duly voted one of the top 5 players of the century… not a bad gong really.
So Hogg’s test career stands at a miserly 4 matches – taking 9 wickets at an average of 50. But it is the one-day game where the smiling assassin has really shined. There could not have been more pressure on him to be honest…
In the wake of the much publicized Warne Diuretic scandal, Hogg was thrust into the limelight, trying to fill the biggest shoes in world cricket… I mean, think about that? To get the call-up; “Hi Bradley… It’s Ricky Ponting here… pack your bags, you’re going to the World Cup…
“Really… what about Shane Warne?….”
“Oh, haven’t you heard…. Warne is banned from cricket for a year… Which makes you our go to spinner… so get a permit for that tongue, get yourself a passport and I’ll see you for our title defence.”
Even though he had debuted in 1996 and had been around cricket for years, his selection came out of the blue, and was a shock to many sport pundits. Who was this tongue wielding – jack in the box? The man looked as though he was a kid that had drank one to many soft drinks… full of sugar and full of life.
Hogg’s wrong’un proved impossible to pick and he baffled and bemused the world’s best batters… Time and time again. Hogga had arrived. The boy from Western Australian has been an integral part of the Aussie team ever since. His high intensity and high energy has been very under-rated in Australia’s domination of the one-day format. With players of the caliber of Ponting, Symonds, Hayden and Gilchrist it is easy to overlook the work of the unheralded chinamen.
It has been eleven years since Hogg donned the Baggy Green, but with his brilliantly consistent form in India and his recent wicket haul for the Warriors, Hogga may be ready to swap his pajamas for the long whites.
His selection is seen as a gamble, with selectors unsure that his bowling is suited to the longer – more subtle version of the game. This has always been the question mark over Brad Hogg. Can he bowl the long spells – the probing spells that work-over a batsmen?
In the shortened game, batsmen are trying to push the scoring and this proves difficult against Hogg’s variations… But in the longer version of the game, batsmen have time to build an innings… It is perceived by many that Hogg would struggle against top line batting in this format.
But his 8-83, like Katich (306) has definitely put him into any test calculations. What seemed like a simple decision (MacGill) has become a little more complicated.
MacGill toiled hard and demonstrated enough… But there will be doubters after his return figures of 3-180odd… Not what you want against a Sri-Lankan attack who traditionally plays spin pretty well.
There is one other option… playing 4 quicks and using Symonds and Clarke as the spinning options… It actually could work really well. Which means Tait, Johnson and Bracken would be the leading contenders to take the 4th bowling spot… Whilst it hasn’t been the norm in the last decade or so for Australians to pick 4 pace bowlers… This just might be a good formula; given that you can fall back on Symonds if need be.
The mail is however that the Gabba will take a bit of spin. Warne regards it as one of his favourite grounds to bowl on and this must have some clout when the selectors decide the make-up of the side. So I think that MacGill will get the duty for the 1st match at least…
But don’t be overly surprised if Hogg gets a run… You heard it here first!
A rank long-shot leading into the game, the left-arm Chinamen took 3-21 in the first innings and then backed that up with 5-62..
This giving him the impressive match figures of 8-83 off 30 overs.
The hypo 36-year old seems to be ageing like a fine wine. His performances for Australia’s limited overs side have been nothing short of amazing.
Tongue wielding bandit
Hogg’s involvement at the top level has (not so) coincidentally coincided with the absence of Shane Warne. (how about that for alliteration!)
It was over a decade ago when Hogg made his debut in the Baggy Green. It was in India, why was he there? Warne was out injured… It is another case of born in the wrong era, for nobody was going to keep Warne out of the test side… He was duly voted one of the top 5 players of the century… not a bad gong really.
a rare test appearance
So Hogg’s test career stands at a miserly 4 matches – taking 9 wickets at an average of 50. But it is the one-day game where the smiling assassin has really shined. There could not have been more pressure on him to be honest…
In the wake of the much publicized Warne Diuretic scandal, Hogg was thrust into the limelight, trying to fill the biggest shoes in world cricket… I mean, think about that? To get the call-up; “Hi Bradley… It’s Ricky Ponting here… pack your bags, you’re going to the World Cup…
“Really… what about Shane Warne?….”
“Oh, haven’t you heard…. Warne is banned from cricket for a year… Which makes you our go to spinner… so get a permit for that tongue, get yourself a passport and I’ll see you for our title defence.”
Even though he had debuted in 1996 and had been around cricket for years, his selection came out of the blue, and was a shock to many sport pundits. Who was this tongue wielding – jack in the box? The man looked as though he was a kid that had drank one to many soft drinks… full of sugar and full of life.
Hogg’s wrong’un proved impossible to pick and he baffled and bemused the world’s best batters… Time and time again. Hogga had arrived. The boy from Western Australian has been an integral part of the Aussie team ever since. His high intensity and high energy has been very under-rated in Australia’s domination of the one-day format. With players of the caliber of Ponting, Symonds, Hayden and Gilchrist it is easy to overlook the work of the unheralded chinamen.
It has been eleven years since Hogg donned the Baggy Green, but with his brilliantly consistent form in India and his recent wicket haul for the Warriors, Hogga may be ready to swap his pajamas for the long whites.
His selection is seen as a gamble, with selectors unsure that his bowling is suited to the longer – more subtle version of the game. This has always been the question mark over Brad Hogg. Can he bowl the long spells – the probing spells that work-over a batsmen?
In the shortened game, batsmen are trying to push the scoring and this proves difficult against Hogg’s variations… But in the longer version of the game, batsmen have time to build an innings… It is perceived by many that Hogg would struggle against top line batting in this format.
But his 8-83, like Katich (306) has definitely put him into any test calculations. What seemed like a simple decision (MacGill) has become a little more complicated.
MacGill toiled hard and demonstrated enough… But there will be doubters after his return figures of 3-180odd… Not what you want against a Sri-Lankan attack who traditionally plays spin pretty well.
There is one other option… playing 4 quicks and using Symonds and Clarke as the spinning options… It actually could work really well. Which means Tait, Johnson and Bracken would be the leading contenders to take the 4th bowling spot… Whilst it hasn’t been the norm in the last decade or so for Australians to pick 4 pace bowlers… This just might be a good formula; given that you can fall back on Symonds if need be.
The mail is however that the Gabba will take a bit of spin. Warne regards it as one of his favourite grounds to bowl on and this must have some clout when the selectors decide the make-up of the side. So I think that MacGill will get the duty for the 1st match at least…
But don’t be overly surprised if Hogg gets a run… You heard it here first!
| 93 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
subscribe to this blog
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
Subject to injury - he will fill the breach whenever he is called upon - but at 36 will only be used sparingly this season I suspect.
Roll on summer.
MNG
Comment by Anonymous
it starts slowly... two matches against Lanka and then 4 against India... But it is the calm before a storm... An insane amount of cricket is about to be played... and injuries must be a concern...
One thinks that Hogg may play some roll....
Also look to a youngster carrying the drinks to 'gain experience'... Perhaps a Bailey or a Dan Cullen...
Would love to see Hogga get a last chance to prove himself though!