Perth Scorchers coach Justin Langer harmed his reputation this week with his petty comments about departing Scorchers veteran Brad Hogg. Langer is mistaken if he thinks loyalty is central to T20 franchise cricket.
He should have treated his former teammate with far greater respect, rather than saying he was “very disappointed”, repeatedly claiming Hogg had made the “wrong decision” and talking about the money the Scorchers had offered him, and appearing at times to mix personal and professional relationships.
According to Hogg, Langer had been pushing him to retire soon, so the 45-year-old spinner had little other option than to leave the Scorchers given he wishes to play on for several more years.
Langer was way out of line in publicly criticising the decision of Hogg to move to rival Big Bash League franchise the Melbourne Renegades.
The key word there is “franchise”. Hogg’s move is not akin to a cricketer defecting from the West Australian team to join another State, although even that is common place these days.
T20 franchise cricket is about winning games and bringing in revenue, first and foremost.
Loyalty is a distant priority, which is understandable when a city-based BBL squad can be made up of not just players from every Australia state, but also from three different countries.
The Scorchers in the past have gone down the route of selecting squads dominated by West Australian players. The Perth team which lost last year’s BBL second semi-final to the Melbourne Stars was made up entirely of WA players, except for its two English imports David Willey and Michael Carberry.
But their opponents were not so homogenous, with players from four different states, to go with English imports Luke Wright and Kevin Petersen.
There was a similar variety of players in the Sydney Thunder line-up which won the BBL. The Thunder had a limited NSW contingent, with only three members of their XI hailing from their home state – Shane Watson, Ben Rohrer and Chris Green.
So while Perth are clinging to their identity as a truly West Australian side, the other franchises are moving with the times. That is not to say the Scorchers’ approach is wrong. As a West Australian myself – one who grew up idolising the likes of Langer, Hogg, Tom Moody and Jo Angel – I love seeing the Perth side stacked with local cricketers.
But it is too much to expect Scorchers players to be loyal to the franchise to the detriment of their careers. That is what Langer seemed to want from Hogg.
In response to Langer’s criticism, Hogg told the media that the Scorchers coach long had been in his ear about retiring.
“We’ve had discussions over the last four years and he’s been very vocal the last four years about my willingness to play on and he’s always been telling me I should be retiring on a high,” Hogg said.
“He was pretty excessive about that this year and I told him I want to play on. I’ve retired once before and you don’t win any brownie points for retiring. As far as I’m concerned I want to play as long as I can.”
Anyone who has watched Hogg buzzing around the cricket field knows how much he relishes the game. He also deserves to continue playing as long as he can for financial reasons, and as long as a team will have him.
Hogg played for Western Australia for 15 years from 1993 to 2008, offering wonderful service to his State. But State contracts in those days were modest and while he would have done well for himself across his 145 matches for Australia, in all formats, he hardly would have been left filthy rich.
The money he can make playing in T20 leagues in Australia, India, Bangladesh, South Africa, the UAE and the Caribbean over the next few years could set him up for life. But Hogg won’t be handed money for sentimental reasons – T20 franchises tend to be ruthless and as soon as Hogg stops performing the cheques will dry up.
Hogg may be 45 years old but he has always been freakishly fit and still moves as well as some players 20 years younger than him. Most importantly, he is still taking wickets and, as a Chinaman bowler, is a very rare breed who offers invaluable variety to any attack.
It won’t surprise me if Hogg is still playing professional T20 cricket up to the age of 50. I certainly hope he is.
Hogg owes WA cricket and the Perth Scorchers absolutely nothing. Us WA fans are fortunate to have watched him represent our State and capital city so skillfully and so proudly for so long.
Although it is a pity he is no longer playing for the Scorchers, I hope he continues to hoard T20 wickets and earn piles of cash. Hoggy deserves it.
While a premature retirement isn’t the solution, he or England want, he may be forced into it if he can’t maintain a long run of matches.
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