Unofficial Yorkshire CC - MATTHEW HOGGARD - GRIZZLY'S DONE US A FAVOUR

MATTHEW HOGGARD - GRIZZLY'S DONE US A FAVOUR

MATTHEW HOGGARD

By JMB March 7 2007
In association with Yorkshire CCC we are running a series of pre-season player interviews. The tenth player in the spotlight is MATTHEW HOGGARD. Matthew gives his thoughts on his England career and talks about his excitement with the new regime at Yorkshire...

I interviewed Matthew as he drove home after training at Headingley. I’ve been inundated with questions for Hoggy and started with some about his England career.

The Ashes must have been so disappointing for the players. Was the Adelaide Test where you bowled magnificently particularly soul destroying for you?

I think the Adelaide Test was the most disappointing, not just because I got quite a few wickets, but because we were in such a strong position as a team going into the 5^th day. It should have been a case of what we were going to set them to put them under pressure, not putting ourselves under pressure. From a team point of view it was frustrating. We were on top and should have been on top and pushing for the win, not losing the Test match. That was the biggest disappointment, but the winter was a big disappointment all ‘round. We didn’t perform at our best. You’re up against a great team and you know you’ve got to be at your best and we just weren’t there. That was the most frustrating thing that we weren’t playing our best cricket.

The team are out in the Caribbean preparing for the World Cup. Is the national one-day set up something you miss being involved in?

Yeah, I quite like the one-day arena. Obviously it’s hard work and its hard work on your body. It’s a nice set up and its good fun and it’s something that I’d have liked to carry on with, but I think the selectors have moved on to pastures new. I’ve learned to live with it and it’s not really depressing me anymore. If it was offered I’d like another crack, yes.

Since the tour of South Africa a couple of years ago you’ve reaped the rewards of a consistent career. I’ve seen you talk about being the ‘Eveready bunny’. Is it ever frustrating to be overshadowed by other bowlers sometimes and do you ever get annoyed by the ‘honest toiler’ tag?

Not at all, it’s great. They can take all the credit, they can take everything and I will quietly get on with my business and it’s fantastic.

And you get a few headlines as well now and again.

Yeah, now and again when I pull my finger out and do something.

Are you driven by world rankings, if so do you have an ambition to be number 1?

No, people have to tell me where I am. I’m driven by winning and you’ve got to perform every day to keep winning. If you’re not performing then I’m not happy so I just try and keep performing and you are only as good as your last performance.

Which is your favourite country to tour?

That’s probably South Africa.

You have played club cricket out there haven’t you?

I played two seasons at Johannesburg Pirates and two seasons at the Free State so I’ve got quite a few friends and I know the country quite well and it’s just a beautiful place.

Do you know Jacques Rudolph from your time out there?

Only to say hello to, not really well no.

On this next question the person who has submitted it has given you a multiple choice set of answers. What is your best bowling performance for England – (a) 7/63 v NZ at Christchurch, (b) 6/57 v India at Nagpur, (c) 7/109 v Australia at Adelaide, (d) 5/144 and 7/61 v South Africa at Johannesburg (in which you removed Rudolph twice for 4 and 2) or (e) the hat-trick against the West Indies at Barbados?

(The Rudolph part of the question got a chuckle) I think the India one, because in the sub-continent everything is against you, you’re not supposed to take wickets in India. So yeah, India and Australia are right up there, because Australia is the old foe and you like performing against the best opposition. It’s very close to call - obviously South Africa was sweet because we won the game. To put them in order – India, Australia and South Africa.

Is the hat-trick more of a quick high, whereas the others are a number of different excellent spells?

Yes. The hat-trick is just three balls.

And there’s some luck involved in that as well.

(Laughs) It was pure skill. Yeah, I think the others are over a long period so you’ve bowled better rather than getting three decent balls in the right place.

The Aussies had a bit of a go at Collingwood this winter. What is your view on sledging?

I’m not a sledger and I didn’t get sledged by Australia at all. I think different people respond differently to sledging. I don’t get sledged, I don’t give it out and I think the only time you get sledged is if you start it.

When I interviewed Younus Khan a few weeks ago he told me that he revels in it and it spurs him on.

Yeah, it does and we knew that and didn’t say boo to him.

The next question is from Steve Patterson who I interviewed last week. He asked who you would prefer to have as a room mate – Kevin Pietersen or Steve Patterson?

Kevin Pietersen, (laughs) because Patto’s the smelliest man alive.

I think it was on your debut we all saw you sitting on the balcony with your pads on against the West Indies in 2000. Dominic Cork and Darren Gough were knocking the runs off and you were the last man. How were you feeling because I think we were all nervous for you?

Yes, it was my debut. On a scale of nought to ten of nervousness it was about 553. I was absolutely bricking it and was relieved when they got there without me.

When you first came on to the scene you were pretty fast and even won a 'who can bowl fastest' competition on TV. Did you make a conscious decision to cut your speed?

Not really, no, I still have my odd moments of bowling at 85mph, which is what I was. I’m more now like Shaun Pollock. We’ve got Harmison, Flintoff and Jones who are at 89 or 90mph and I’m happy with my role, cutting down speed for accuracy. If you ask the batsmen they’ll say they are happier facing a 90mph bowler that’s going up or down, rather than an 80mph bowler that swings it.

And you seem to be known for your ability to bowl at left handers?

That’s hear say, I hate bowling at left-handers. If you get them out early you don’t have to bowl at them anymore do you? Left-handers don’t like it swinging back in to their pads and that’s something I can do, but I still don’t like bowling at them.

Why do you limp and sort of press down at the start of your run up?

What’s all that about. I’ve no idea.

Is that something you’ve always done? Is it something to get you more balanced or something?

No. It’s just something that I do subconsciously and it looks weird and I think what the f*k am I doing here.

Who have you most enjoyed working in tandem with as an opening pair of bowlers for England and Yorkshire?

Everybody. I don’t like bowling with spinners, so anyone that’s got a longer run up than 20 yards so I get a rest.

Geoff Boycott has said you should bat at number 11 for England but you have apparently sought his advice on how to improve your batting in the past. What advice did he give you and has it worked?

(Laughs) He’s given me advice on how to improve my bowling and not my batting

Do you prefer batting at 11 where you can have a swing or do you prefer the night-watchman role?

I like night-watchman. I like frustrating the f*k out of the opposition bowlers. I love it.

I was at Trent Bridge in 2005 when you and Ashley Giles saw us home. And you hit a lovely cover drive.

Yeah off Brett Lee - when I hit my four. I’ve got my shots in the locker I just don’t like taking them out that often. I just take them out when I’m needed.

A questioner suggests that your Yorkshire career will be best remembered for 'that' innings against Lancs. As a bowler does this bother you?

My Yorkshire career isn’t over yet so watch this space.

How much time do you spend working on your batting? How hard is it to bat in Test matches? If you played club cricket would you be the best batsman?

Of course, (laughs), obviously it would be a lot easier as you don’t have international bowlers bowling at you. I’d quite like to play as a batter in a club side, but I don’t get the time.

Obviously your main concern these days must be your England career, but do you still look forward to turning out for Yorkshire and do you get a buzz out of it?

Yes, it’s fantastic. I’m looking forward to this season tremendously. I’m looking forward to playing with Goughie, looking forward to getting Dizzy back - we’re getting Martyn Moxon back as well. It’s where I started my career, with Goughie and Martyn and I just can’t wait to get back in and then give them a load of s*t.

You are playing a game of cricket. It doesn’t matter if it is against Australia or some noddy’s XI you still want to win and perform well. It’s easy to motivate yourself for Yorkshire, but it’s not so nice to be out in cold winter weather, it’s always nice when the suns on your back.

So you are doing pre-season and going out to La Manga and then you will be available for how many games?

3 or 4 I think and then hopefully its back to England, fingers crossed

In a county game the other season you kept lifting the bails - why?

It was just to annoy the umpires. I keep on flicking the bails off and giving them to the umpires so they’ve got something to do. They don’t do anything all day.

Last week was a mad week for Yorkshire cricket, but a good week, having Gough back, and McGrath staying. Was it exciting for you?

Yeah, it was really exciting. I think Chris Adams not coming has done us a favour. I think Martyn Moxon is an excellent coach who we were stupid to let leave in the first place. Now that he’s gone away and experienced another county and got more experience as a coach he’s going to come back better than ever. I think Goughie’s just the right man with his charisma and charms to be able to take the club in the right direction.

Goughie is a heart on sleeve leader whereas Moxon’s more of a steadying influence to have behind him. Is that how you see it?

The good thing, I think, is that they are both their own men and they are not going to bow to the way other people want it to be run. They are very strong characters and they will make sure that whatever needs to be done for Yorkshire cricket, they’ll do it. They are both very passionate, both Yorkshire lads born and bred and I’m really looking forward to working with them again. I think Grizzly’s done us a favour.

I believe Phil Carrick was a big influence in your early days of club cricket. What did you learn from him?

If I hadn’t have met Ferg I wouldn’t be where I am now. He basically put me on to the path of playing professional cricket. I was a young 16-year-old lad, going to university and not knowing what I was going to do with my life. He took me under his wing and basically taught me the ways and wants of county cricket. At the time there was me and VVS Laxman playing at Pudsey Congs and he was a 19-year-old, not playing for his state in India too much and Ferg turned ‘round and said to us that we would end up playing Test cricket against each other. We laughed because I wasn’t involved with Yorkshire and Laxman wasn’t doing much in India, so we laughed and said ‘no you’re joking’.

He had time for you all the time. If you wanted to site down and chat about life, cricket or anything he was there for you. He’s really missed.

I understand that if you'd not become a cricketer you were going to be a vet - do you think you will stay in cricket when you retire or will you become a James Herriott.

I’d have loved to have been a vet, working with animals and working outdoors. You’ve got 5 or 6 years to study to be a vet.

You get enough time sat on the balcony watching the batsmen, you could have your books out?

Oh no, I’m sleeping.

If you could be any other sportsman alive or dead who would you choose?

That would be me.

Any other sportsman.

Who’s really rich?

Tiger Woods.

I’ll be Tiger Woods then (laughs).

Duncan Fletcher or Bob Woolmer?

Duncan Fletcher.

Yorkshire or England?