Brad Hogg will be 46 in February, but there is no more passionate, dedicated, nor infectious cricketer going around in the Big Bash League.
He gets younger every year, but life hasn’t always been rosy for George Bradley Hogg.
In a three-year period from 2008 to 2011, Hogg admits he even gave himself the shits that he couldn’t cope with everyday life, cricket was everything.
Hogg details his feelings in his autobiography “The Wrong ‘Un”, but the bubbly Hogg is back, and cricket’s the beneficiary.
How Aaron Finch managed to salt Hogg away from his beloved WACA was one thing, but the left arm spinner’s debut for the Melbourne Renegades at Etihad last night was spectacular.
He claimed the wickets of Sydney Thunder’s Ryan Gibson (39) and Ben Rohrer (30) in the one over, finishing with 2-22 off his four.
Hogg’s combination with West Indian spinner Sunil Narine (2-32 off four) will prove to be an integral part of the Renegades’ BBL campaign.
Skipper Finch showed the way with the bat after being sent in, carving a man-of-the-match 63 off just 33 deliveries that included three boundaries, and four sixes.
Finch really needed to tee off again after a poor run of 1, 53, 2, 19, 0, 19, and 3 in ODIs. He’s an important part of Australia’s limited-over formats, opening the batting with David Warner.
It’s a vastly different story with the Sydney Thunder, the reigning BBL champions, who have yet to win a game in two starts.
They are missing their skipper Shane Watson with a calf injury, and Usman Khawaja, but they do have Pat Cummins.
Last night Cummins was constantly around the 150 click mark in taking 1-26 off his four, then showed his batting prowess clubbing 36 off 23 with no boundaries, but four huge sixes off Narine twice, Hogg, and Dwayne Bravo.
Tonight will be a BBL double-header with the Sydney Sixers taking on the Hobart Hurricanes at the SCG – will England paceman Stuart Broad make his debut for the Hurricanes?
The Perth Scorchers will follow against the Adelaide Strikers at the WACA, leading into the second Test against Pakistan at the MCG on Boxing Day.
That poses the big question – who will get the selector’s ultimate Christmas present – Nic Maddinson, Chadd Sayers, or Hilton Cartwright?
Johnny Blonde
Guest
1994 eh? 9 years before the format was invented!
TheCunningLinguistic
Guest
Ah, the evergreen Hoggy! Always brings a smile to my face... We'll miss him at the Scorchers.
Perry Bridge
Guest
He did miss a far simpler stumping than the one Wade missed. I'm not saying Wade is better or his equal - however - Wade does get subjected to far more criticism perhaps as compared to others.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
That's an interesting point David. I think Finch should be captaining the Australian T20 side. Smith has his hands full with test and ODI captaincy duties and I think he could benefit from Finch taking back over. Your thoughts? How did Finch get Hogg over there? I really enjoy watching him play.
Ken (Sava) Lloyd
Guest
David. one thing that gets me in all forms of Cricket is when the wicket keeper runs after a ball,thus leaving the wicket unguarded,and the ball ends up at the feet of a fielder,do they get bored and go for a run? Stay behind the Stumps And what about the Gold Chains the Fast Bowlers wear around their necks,some of them could be Gold Coated anchor chains off the Queen Mary. Sava
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
"have"
matth
Guest
Niiice Bradley!!!
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
Brad Hogg's wrong 'un and flipper has been bamboozling batsmen for twenty years.His first T20 for Warwickshire in 1994 he took 4 for 9!
Smiggle Jiggle
Roar Guru
agree, its the only form of Cricket that my wife will watch.
Peter Zitterschlager
Roar Guru
Hoggy makes T20 more creditable than any other player in the BB. No bowler remedies the problems T20 has between the balance of bat and ball better than he. When Hoggy is bowling, the balance is restored; better still, it is re-calibrated in favor of the bowler, such is his beguiling effect.You gotta love him for that alone, because when T20 grows up and we get more scientific about it, Hoggs effect will be something they measure in the lab. Cricket's future is still bright if we're down to just T20 in 50 years thanks to Hoggy.
Don Freo
Guest
Hoggy turned the match, dismissed their two most dominant batsmen and super-economical...Finchy dropped a catch. Hoggy should have been Man of the Match, not Finch. Why is a 50 always considered better than a wicket every 2 overs or bowling at less than a run a ball?
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
He hasn't really put a foot wrong while in the Test team though, has he... at least as far as his keeping goes.
Perry Bridge
Guest
The Gades opened with Cooper in their last practice hit out on Sunday - with Doherty also in that line up. Finch and White will never get a bowl!! Just want to re-iterate though - Nevill was ordinary behind the pegs last night. Were he Wade there'd be a chorus of "See how bad he is" - however it seems accepted wisdom that Nevill is the best gloveman. To me - he's okay, generally tidy but not an out and out leader of the pack.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
Ha! But seriously, I do understand that there may be the odd occasion where a selection doesn't follow the usual process. I just don't think Cummins is so good that he should be one of the exceptions. Assuming we can ignore David's ridiculous suggestion of dropping a specialist bastman in order to shoehorn Cummins into the side, that only leaves dropping one of the existing fast bowlers. Trouble is - they're all performing reasonably well, and represent a well balanced attack. The only one who could be a like for like swap would be Starc - and nobody in their right mind would be suggesting that. So I'm still waiting on a logical argument from David as to how Cummins could be sensibly fitted in to the current Test team. Even if we were to ignore the clear path the medical staff have mapped out for Cummins. Why David has decided to ignore specialist knowledge and experience is beyond me - but that's nothing new...;)
George
Guest
Sigh.
David Lord
Expert
Jason, you have mentioned another feature of the Big Bash that's exclusive to the tournament. Renegades skipper Aaron Finch opened with offie Tom Cooper before introducing Sunil Narine and Brad Hogg. Between the three spinners they bowled 10 overs - half the innings. You'll rarely, if ever, see three spinners operating in Test matches, or ODIs, where the main emphasis is on pace, pace, and more pace. Just another reason why the Big Bash is so entertaining.
Lancey5times
Roar Rookie
Case in point Christo Odds of getting a reply from the 'Expert' 66/1
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
How's his recent Shield form David? Had a good couple of seasons of consistent results has he? You know, seeing as that's how most people agree is the way in which Test selections should happen...
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
Well, it's not so much that he doesn't reply - it's more the nature of the replies! Toning down the personal abuse and actually engaging with the points that readers are raising would be a good start...
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
Anyone pay attention to Narine - apparently a modified action? Still had everyone in a trance guessing which way the bounce. I struggled to find much different from last season. Sides will do well to crack 50 off Hogg/Narine's 8 overs - they'll be tough to beat.