WHAT A YEAR THAT WAS - 2006 A REVIEW Part 4

Matthew Hoggard
By JMB
December 21 2006

It's been a difficult year for Tyke internationals. Only Hoggy has been a regular for England, but what a year he's had. Michael Vaughan has struggled with injury, Tim Bresnan tasted one day action, while our Aussie's faded from the international scene.

Matthew Hoggard may look like he's had a hard day on the farm, but he has proved beyond any doubt that he is an international bowler of class. He is one of the first names on the England test teamsheet and never lets his country down. His game is built on effort and hard work. While Harmison slings balls down at breakneck speed, causing batsmen to duck and Flintoff wishing he could wear wicket keepers gloves, Hoggy toils, teases and tempts at the other end.

In December he described himself as the 'Ever-Ready Bunny' has been ever present in the test side for the last thirty-nine games. Speaking about his seven wicket haul at Adelaide in the current Ashes series he said "I just closed my eyes and whanged it down, and you take your chances." We all know it is not that simple. He has added variation to his stock swing armoury and is currently fifth in the ICC world test bowling rankings.

In 2006 Hoggy became the tenth Englishman to take 200 test wickets. In typical understatement he said "I'm not a massive stats man, but it's a dream come true to get 200 wickets and join the legends," If things go to plan and fitness is on his side there is no reason why Hoggy can't catch the greatest of all Yorkshire bowlers Fred Trueman, and take 300 test wickets. Hoggard has defied his crickets, worked is socks off and is a Yorkshireman we should be very proud of.

Other Tykes have struggled while Hoggy has shone. Michael Vaughan must wish he had Hoggard's constitution. He made a fleating comeback for Yorkshire in the summer, but England has been a distant memory. He has ended the year on a positive note with the news of a call up to the one day side to play Australia and New Zealand in early 2007.

Michael must have watched the current Ashes series with mixed feelings. His victorious and highly regard leadership of England in 2005 has been missed. His performance with the bat on the last Ashes tour in 2002/3 earned him the Man of the Series Award. Watching from the stands must have hurt.

Tim Bresnan hasn't been included in the Australian one day squad, but enjoyed the highs and lows of an international call up in 2006. Bres bowled his heart out for Yorkshire and scored 94 in the seasons MCC curtain raiser in April. His emergence as a quality allrounder saw his selection to the England side for the Twenty20 match against Sril Lanka and then played four of the five one day games that followed. Bresnan struggled to come to terms with the step up in standard and scored just 51 runs and took 2 wickets. He wasn't helped by the England sides poor performance.

It is to be hoped that Bres can move forward. His dreams of World Cup selection seem doomed. England were criticised for picking Bres with people suggesting that they were returning to the days of filling positions with bits-and-pieces players who are not good enough with either bat or ball. Bresnan was harshly treated by the flashing blades at the top of Sri Lanka's order, but did show courage by coming back at the death and not being afraid to vary his pace. He produced some powerful blows with the bat but was let down by his fielding. Yorkshire fans will be happy to see Bresnan build on these experiences at Headingley next summer.

So that was that. There is a saying that a strong Yorkshire side makes for a strong England side. Yorkshire were almost relegated and England meekly gave up the Ashes. There are positive signs. The Daily Telegraph produced a 'ten reasons to be cheerful for 2009' and included Rashid and Lawson as potential thorns in the Aussies side. It may not be long before Hoggy and Vaughan are not the only current England internationals we have.