da fazobetai： Former Australia opener Justin Langer, who retired from the Test scene in January 2007, is considering extending his competitive cricket career to the age of 40
da realbet： Jason Dasey10-Nov-2008
Matthew Hoggard wants to make sure the tour of New Zealand earlier this year will not turn out to be his international farewell © Getty Images
Matthew Hoggard, the fast bowler discarded by theEngland selectors during the tour of New Zealand eightmonths ago, has set himself a target of getting backin the Test side by July’s home Ashes series. But Hoggard, 31, admitted the odds were stacked against him.”The selectors have almost said to me it would be abackward step picking me,” he said. “Obviously Englandhave moved past me at the moment and have got somegood youngsters in the team. I’m at the back of thequeue at the moment.”Hoggard, who was on a flying visit to Asia at the weekend to play foran All-Stars team in the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes, saidhe was interested in playing in next year’s IndianPremier League (IPL). But he added that his priority wasto start the next English county season in style aheadof the Ashes.”There’s a massive summer coming up. There’s nothingmore than I want to do is put the three lions on myshirt if it’s playing against Australia, or playingagainst Zimbabwe or Bangladesh,” he said. “It onlytakes an injury to someone or a lack of form tosomebody else to open up a chance. If you’re the guywho’s knocking loudest on the door, then hopefully thedoor will be answered and you’ll be asked to come in.”Hoggard, sixth on the all-time England bowling listwith 248 wickets at 30.50 in 67 Test matches, arguedagainst the perception he had become too one-dimensionalfor the top level as a prolific outswing bowler. “People have been saying that ever since I’ve been in the England Test team,” he said. “I think I’veevolved.”I think I’m more canny than just running upand bowling away-swing. I’ve proved that by takingwickets on the subcontinent and at some of theharshest places to go.”In 2005, Hoggard played an important role as Englandwon the Ashes for the first time in more than 18years. After a quiet start, he took nine wickets inthe fourth and fifth Tests and shared in a memorableeighth-wicket partnership with Ashley Giles as Englandscraped home in the fourth match at Trent Bridge totake a 2-1 series lead.He hopes that his contribution last time out will beremembered when the selectors choose the bestcombination to win the Ashes back in 2009. England’sbowlers will again be looking to make the most of home conditionsto expose weaknesses in the Australian battingline-up.”The good thing about our swing bowlers in 2005 wasthat we were all different,” he said. “I was a moreconventional swing bowler, Freddie was a hit the deckreverser and Simon Jones was a skiddy reverser. Ittested out the Australians’ technique because we hadso many different kinds of bowlers.”As he prepared for his first winter at home in almosta decade, Hoggard said he would enjoy the time inYorkshire with his wife Sarah and baby son Ernie. However, he said he would be dreaming of being part of what would be his fourth Ashes battle.”Every game back in 2005 was special,” he said.”Probably my strongest memory was the Old TraffordTest match where the Australians were out on thebalcony, celebrating a draw. They were so happy thatthey managed to draw against England. I think thatgave us the belief that we could beat Australia andthat’s what we did.”
