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Hoggard happy to be top gun in England's battery

Yorkshireman transformed from back-up bowler to main strike weapon in 12 months is set to take Gough's mantle at Headingley

Angus Fraser
Monday 19 August 2002 00:00 BST
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The Yorkshire and England fast bowler Matthew Hoggard has pilfered a couple of items from his county and country colleague Darren Gough in the last nine months – and on Thursday he has the chance to take another.

For Gough, who has spent more time this summer talking tactics with his knee surgeon than his bowling coach, the titles of being "England's premier" and "England's highest ranked" Test bowler have gone. Both have been grabbed by Hoggard in the 13 Test matches he has played since his debut against the West Indies in 2000. During this week's third Test against India at Headingley, Gough runs the risk of losing the position he probably relishes most – the idol of the Western Terrace.

While it may not have the notoriety of The Kop at Anfield, the Stretford End at Old Trafford or the Hill at the Sydney Cricket Ground, this fanatical stand of spectators is the closest thing in English cricket to them. Hoggard, who will be playing his first Test match in front of them on Thursday, will be hoping he gains the same roaring support as Gough.

Playing in front of his home crowd is a prospect the 25-year-old Hoggard is looking forward to. "Everybody wants to play a Test match at their home ground, in front of all their friends and supporters. It will be nice to know that there will be a lot of people in the ground supporting me. It will be a big family event, they will all be there, especially my dad who is an avid supporter.

"It would be great to perform well this week. Not just to reward the gatemen, the stewards and the staff who have encouraged me and made me feel so welcome here, but to say thanks for the help they have given me on the way up," said Hoggard.

As well as being an inspiration, the Yorkshire crowd can also be your fiercest and most voluble critics. In the afternoon – I wonder why – they can be quite scathing about the day you are having, especially if you are perceived to be a southern softie or from the other side of the Pennines.

Hoggard went on to say: "I am lucky, I am one of the few who has always got on well with the crowd here and I'm sure I will be in front of them at some stage. Unlike Goughy, I tend to bowl at both ends at Headingley so I don't field in front of the Western Terrace all the time. Nasser [Hussain] normally has me fielding in all four corners of the ground by the end of the day and I look forward to feeling their support. I just hope I bowl better than in the last game I played here."

Indeed, the only other game he has played at Headingley for England, a one-day international against Sri Lanka in July, was the lowest point of what has been an excellent summer for the man nicknamed "Shrek" by the former England all-rounder Ian Botham during the winter. In this game he was on the receiving end of a blistering hundred by Sanath Jayasuriya. Unflattering figures of 4-0-53-1 were followed by people questioning technical errors in his bowling action as well as his self-belief.

Hoggard's confidence was regarded by some to be weak following comments made earlier in the summer when he was honest enough to admit he was nervous and slightly overawed during the first Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's.

Some were critical of such honesty, but, to me, it was a sign of strength. Hiding behind false bravado and making excuses for under-performing are signs of weakness. If you do not admit to yourself there are areas of your game that are not up to scratch, you will never attempt to improve them. It actually takes, and shows, more confidence to be honest and admit to the problems you may be having.

Each time his character has been questioned, though, Hoggard has come back strongly and proved his doubters wrong. He is currently ranked the sixth-best Test bowler in the world and has already taken 26 wickets in the five Tests England have played this summer. Only Botham and Dominic Cork beat him to 50 Test wickets in his 12th match, not bad for a man who was supposed to be in the middle of a crisis a month ago.

He is my type of cricketer. A bowler who is hard-working and as honest as the day is long. Every time he walks out to bowl you know you are going to get everything he has to offer. Like Andrew Flintoff he is not looking after himself on the field by pacing his career at about 80 per cent effort so it lasts a few years longer. He is content with himself and does not attempt to be something he is not just to make himself more marketable.

Before last winter's tours to India and New Zealand, Hoggard was considered nothing more than a back-up bowler to Gough and Andrew Caddick. However, the withdrawal of these two from the tour of India elevated him to the position of England's most senior bowler with just two Test appearances behind him.

"Going to India without Caddick and Gough and having to take on the responsibility of leading the attack helped me enormously," he said. "Learning my trade on those flat, dry pitches was like being thrown in at the deep end. But it stood me in good stead for the more seamer-friendly conditions of England this summer."

Handing back the reins to Caddick, who returns to the England side this week after a month out of action with a rib injury, is not something that Hoggard is prepared to do without a fight. Competition among bowlers for the tag of being the number one bowler is healthy. Holding this position, you generally get the choice of ends, bowl with the new ball and bowl in the crucial phases of the game.

Hoggard said: "It will be good to have 'Caddy' [Caddick] back. He enjoys the limelight, but I do not want to slip back into the shade. I have enjoyed the responsibility and the challenge of being at the sharp end. I like being the one looked upon to do the damage and I want it to continue."

Hoggard is having a new house built while he is touring with England this winter. It will be a race to see what goes up quicker, the bricks or his reputation as a world-class bowler.

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