Retirement at 46? No way, says Brad Hogg
NEW DELHI: Brad Hogg will be 47 come February but the Australian Chinaman bowler says the thought of announcing retirement from international cricket has not yet crossed his mind.
While he is “not done yet”, Hogg remains realistic about his chances of making another comeback for Australia.
He is currently commentating in the li mited-overs series between India and Australia and if it was not for a surgery on his left knee, he may well have been preparing back home to make another first-class comeback for Western Australia.
“I am not worried about my age mate. I am still trying to play first-class cricket for Western Australia. I don’t think I will ever announce my retirement from i nternational cricket because it is a privilege to play for your country and if I am doing well enough I would never say no,” Hogg said in a chat.
The boom in T20 cricket has pushed a host of cricketers to stretch their careers. Hogg is a prime example of that alongside India’s “ageless” Ashish Nehra, who, at 38, has earned a recall to the Indian team for the three T20s against Australia begin- ning October 7.
Hogg was 44 when he last played for Australia in 2014 and still thinks he is good enough to bowl at the highest level. He also remains a regular at the Big Bash League and even played the IPL as recently as last year.
“If I get the opportunity to play again (for Australia), I would take it. Because once you are long time retired (it is difficult to come back). If it stops now, it stops now, I know I won’t get to play again.
“I am fortunate that at my age I am still wanted. Whether it happens or not, it is another matter but yeah I am not done yet,” he says.
Hogg says the curiosity over his age doesn’t bother him and he is focused on getting back to full fitness, having undergone a knee surgery three months ago. Sad to see champs Nigeria missing from World Cup: Ex-world Cupper Kalu Uche.
CHILE COULD EVEN MEET BRAZIL IN THE ROUND OF 16 AND THAT COULD PROVE TO BE SOME MATCH GIVEN THE HISTORY OF THE TEAMS. We’ve got a really solid attack. If it’s not me, you’ve got Pat Cummins who can bowl fast bouncers and Josh Hazlewood bowling consistent line and length. MITCHELL STARC, On pace attack
SYDNEY: Mitchell Starc is hopeful Australia’s fast bowlers can capitalise on the concerns over England’s top order during the first Test of the Ashes next month.
Dawid Malan secured his place in the England squad despite failing to convince against South Africa and West Indies, while James Vince and Gary Ballance have been recalled. Starc hopes to exploit the tourists’ struggles when they meet at the Gabba on November 23, believing the uncertainty offers someone a chance to replicate Mitchell Johnson’s nine-wicket haul on the same ground when Australia started the 2013-14 series with a 381-run win.
“It’s a very different Australian team and an opportunity for a few of the younger, less experienced guys to get on top of them much like Mitch did to some of their batsmen through that series,” said the 27-year-old, who is set to return from a foot injury he aggravated at the Champions Trophy during the JLT One-day Cup before featuring in the Sheffield Shield. “They’ve got (Joe) Root and (Alastair) Cook up the top who’ve played a lot of cricket and probably their main guys with the bat.
“The guys in the top order around them are pretty inexperienced and hopefully we can exploit that in our conditions and, if we can, really get on top of them in the first Test like Mitch did a couple of years ago.
“We’ve got a really solid attack who complement each other. If it’s not me, you’ve got Pat Cummins who can bowl fast bouncers and Josh Hazlewood bowling consistent line and length.
“It’ll be much like that attack did when Johnno took all those wickets, I think we complement each other really well.
“Throw in Jackson Bird and Nathan Coulter-nile’s back bowling really well, so five really good guys there and if Patto (James Pattinson) is fit to go, six.”
Ben Stokes’ spot was placed in doubt when he was suspended indefinitely by the ECB after being arrested and subsequently released without charge following an incident in Bristol.
Starc believes the absence of Stokes would be a huge loss for England, though he is confident they could still pose a threat without him.
“He’s a big part of their team and if he’s on the plane we’ll assess him, otherwise we don’t need to worry about it,” he said. “I’m sure they can (compete without Stokes). He makes their team a bit more balanced but he’s not the be all and end all of their team.”