Brad Hogg

[Francis]

I thought Hogg bowled well without luck. He's got such a good wrong'un that strangely not even the Indians can pick!

He had two wickets that weren't given today. One was his very first delivery to Ganguly. A shot wasn't offered and I thought it was pretty obviously out. I think umpires are reluctant to give those kind of balls out, even when it's obvious. It's easier to give an lbw out when it pitches in line etc, rather than when a batsman doesn't offer a shot.

Then Hogg bowled another beautiful wrong'un that deceived (I forget who) someone, but then it also deceived Gilchrist, who fumbled a perfect stumping oppotunity. In fact that reminds me that Gilchrist missed a stumping before that off Hogg's bowling. So that's two missed stumpings for Gilly.

Then there was that time Dhoni hit the ball back and Hogg was too nervous to react in time to catch it. Can't really say Hogg deserved it because he wasn't good enough to catch it, but the point is he's bowling well enough to make these oppotunities.


He's not going to be one of the world's best spinners ala Murali and Kumble. But all Australia need is for him to be another cog in the machine. 2-3 wickets a Test and not going for many runs. I think he's a better choice than MacGill as Stuart MacGill just had no fitness or form these days. Hogg might be in his 30s, but he brings a lot of enthusiasim to the task at hand. And I think he'll get better.

 

[silentstriker]

I thought Hogg bowled well without luck. He's got such a good wrong'un that strangely not even the Indians can pick!

He had two wickets that weren't given today. One was his very first delivery to Ganguly. A shot wasn't offered and I thought it was pretty obviously out. I think umpires are reluctant to give those kind of balls out, even when it's obvious. It's easier to give an lbw out when it pitches in line etc, rather than when a batsman doesn't offer a shot.

Then Hogg bowled another beautiful wrong'un that deceived (I forget who) someone, but then it also deceived Gilchrist, who fumbled a perfect stumping oppotunity. In fact that reminds me that Gilchrist missed a stumping before that off Hogg's bowling. So that's two missed stumpings for Gilly.

Then there was that time Dhoni hit the ball back and Hogg was too nervous to react in time to catch it. Can't really say Hogg deserved it because he wasn't good enough to catch it, but the point is he's bowling well enough to make these oppotunities.


He's not going to be one of the world's best spinners ala Murali and Kumble. But all Australia need is for him to be another cog in the machine. 2-3 wickets a Test and not going for many runs. I think he's a better choice than MacGill as Stuart MacGill just had no fitness or form these days. Hogg might be in his 30s, but he brings a lot of enthusiasim to the task at hand. And I think he'll get better.

His flipper wasn't picked by the Indians. But he sucks without it - and they'll figure out that delivery soon enough.

He was the worst of the bowlers - Aussies really need to get a 4th seamer instead. You need to play your best four bowlers. I can't see Tait being as bad as Hogg was.

 

[Nate]

SS - didn't watch the Test?

 

[silentstriker]

Watched every ball. Hogg was generally carted around.

 

[Nate]

Nah, you didn't watch the Test.

 

[aussie tragic]

The only problem with Hogg is that he's almost 37...He has one year left in him at the most I'd say.

I'd say Hoggy is one of the fittest 30+ cricketers around and with his love of playing for Australia, plus the lack of a suitable young spiner, I'd say he's got about 2-3 years left in him.

btw, Clarrie Grimmett played 31 tests after his 37th birthday and he took 181 wkts, Lance Gibbs played 28 tests after 37 and took 100 wkts....

 

[deeps]

Watched every ball. Hogg was generally carted around.

Economy in first innings: 3.90 and 3 wickets - the indians quite obviously went after him
Economy in second innings: 3.00

Hardly carted around

You were obviously watching a different game

 

[silentstriker]

Economy in first innings: 3.90 and 3 wickets - the indians quite obviously went after him
Economy in second innings: 3.00

Hardly carted around

You were obviously watching a different game

In this case, the stats don't really tell the story. He was very easily played. But we'll see after the end of the series - at that point, the stats will reflect his performance.

Anyone want to bet he ends up with a bowling average of greater than 40 for the series? Avatar for a week.

 

[Nate]

Anyone want to bet he ends up with a bowling average of greater than 40 for the series? Avatar for a week.

Done and done.

 

[river end]

In this case, the stats don't really tell the story. He was very easily played. But we'll see after the end of the series - at that point, the stats will reflect his performance.

Anyone want to bet he ends up with a bowling average of greater than 40 for the series? Avatar for a week.

Normally, I would say he would probably go for over 40. But if India continued to get hammered I can see him averaging under 40, with the Indians being totally out of the game, losing focus and throwing their wickets away.

A few years back, guys like Hogg and Symonds would have been labelled "One-day cricketer only" like Michael Bevan, Simon O'Donnell etc.. It might sound harsh, but it seems these players are in the Aust team because they're "good blokes" and good team men and contribute to the general comraderie.
The Australian team just hasn't generally been challenged for a long time, and if the team was really being challenged or losing some matches these types of players would start to be scrutinised heavily.
At the moment, the team doesn't need to worry about carrying players - the opposition (especially as a team) isn't good enough to expose any weaknesses. And it's difficult to drop players from a winning team. The selectors could probably select a few different players right now without much discernible difference in the result.

 

[Josh]

Always been a massive Hogg fan. Hoping to see him take this opportunity by the scruff and show the selectors how much more he has to offer than MacGill:

*Plays as a genuine all-rounder, although it may take him a while to get settled at the crease
*Bowls more accurately (2nd inns Melbourne maybe a bit scrappy)
*Meanest flipper I have EVER seen in my life
*Nobody picks the wrong'un
*None of his wickets so far have been "the number 10 batsman caught on the boundary going for the big one off of the worst ball in history"
and
*the tongue:

 

[Josh]

Forgot to add a pretty gun fielder, as well. MacGill just waddles around in the field lol. Worst running style I've ever seen!!

 

[NUFAN]

Hogg and McGain for The SCG now appears a remote likelihood.

One front line spinner is enough currently.

 

[Josh]

One front line spinner is enough currently.

Concur.

 

[Laurrz]

yea, was happy with him as well

that flipper will be on the minds of a few left handed indians in particular
also pretty much got Ganguly out 4 times... (had to get him out 3 times to get him out in the 2nd innings (missed stumping, shout that seemed plumb-ish))

and as ppl have said, he is pretty much a bowling allrounder because he is very handy with the bat.. he is an aggressive batsman in domestic but for intl i expect him to be more subdued and therefore harder to get out..knock around singles etc. (when batting with Gilly and co. anyway)

and yep gun fielder..
and no he's not Giles lol..

 

[Richard]

One front line spinner is enough currently.

I know, but I'd quite got into this McGain-to-appear-from-nowhere-and-play-a-Test lark.

And would be somewhat sensational to see a 37-year-old retire, be replaced by first a 36-year-old, then another 36-year-old, then a 35-year-old who'd played for Denmark and played virtually no First-Class cricket until the season of his Test selection.

 

[Josh]

I know, but I'd quite got into this McGain-to-appear-from-nowhere-and-play-a-Test lark.

And would be somewhat sensational to see a 37-year-old retire, be replaced by first a 36-year-old, then another 36-year-old, then a 35-year-old who'd played for Denmark and played virtually no First-Class cricket until the season of his Test selection.

Would certainly be a laugh!

 

[The Baconator]

Glad to see him doing well, always liked Hogg, even before his stint with the Bears a while back.

 

[Richard]

Al, you've gone mad surely? That's 6 posts in 1 day! Including 2 before 6AM. Most for you in the last 2 years at least, surely?

On related matters, surely time for another confirming your interest or otherwise in the meetup thread?

 

[Malleeboy]

What are the Hogg critics after, sure he's no Warne or Murali with the ball but compare him with the spinners in some other teams? A Giles comes to mind, Hogg is IMHO much more likely to get top order wickets, if alone for the fact that there are so few left arm over the wrist bowlers around. Or compare to Boje for the saffers.

May never be a champion bowler but like Colin Miller did will do the job for a couple of seasons, as well as give variety to the attack, a few handy lower order runs and good feilding.