Oh George Bradley Hogg. What have you done! The heart and soul of the Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash has just given a massive finger to club loyalty by reportedly signing with the Melbourne Renegades for the upcoming season.
To say this move has come as a shock does not do it justice. It’s seismic.
Since the first season of the BBL, Hogg has been the competition’s most likeable player, and been shown nothing but love from the Scorchers franchise who have bent over backwards to accommodate him into their plans.
On the wrong side of 40, Hogg has been allowed to sign one-year deals over the last two seasons ensuring he has to the last moment to decide if the body is still up to it.
Despite this, he’s decided to take the cash and join the Renegades out of Etihad Stadium in cold Melbourne. And what a pick-up he is for the Red side of town who have been desperate for a world class spinner to help exploit the low, slow home conditions.
Only death bowling specialist Ben Laughlin (60) has more wickets in the history of the BBL.
Hogg’s 46 wickets have come at an average of 21.82 runs, while his career economy rate of just 6.23 is the third best mark all-time – he’s one of just eight players with an economy under seven.
Naturally, Scorchers coach Justin Langer is upset. And JL doesn’t hide it well either.
“I’m really disappointed about that,” he said at a press conference today.
“What can I say? I’m personally disappointed, professionally disappointed, but it’s his decision and life goes on.
“In my opinion he’s made the wrong decision, that’s OK, that’s not my business.
“But I can go to bed at night knowing we offered him more money than we offered him last year, we think we’ve had a good deal with him for the last few years and it could have been a real win-win situation for him and us.”
It’s not the first time JL has sent off a defector in style, and it won’t be the last. Hogg’s departure has left a gaping hole not just in their bowling stocks, but also in the club’s marketability to fans.
He was King of the kids in the West, and no doubt the ‘Gades will be looking to capitalise on this at Etihad.
This was supposed to be the season Ashton Agar became a genuine allrounder, but he may have to focus more on his bowling now.
Can James Muirhead recapture his form of 2014 and get a game? Will the Scorchers now fit Mitchell Johnson into the rotation alongside the already burgeoning stable of quicks?
All of a sudden one of the competition’s most consistent franchises has lost a foundation pillar.
Has Hogg made the right call by taking the cash? Does JL have any right to have his knickers in a knot? Let me know below.
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