Matthew Hoggard

Way back in 2005 Matthew Hoggard was one of the team that brought the Ashes back home after an absence of 18 years. His first class cricket started in 1996, having previously played for a local Yorkshire team, where he was spotted and joined Yorkshire.

An accomplished swing bowler, with the correct conditions he could wreak devastation against the opening batsmen, but if condition weren't going his way, he was not so effective. Called up for England, he had a test career from 2000 to 2008 and he took 248 wickets, before stepping down from the England team. Hoping to rejoin Yorkshire after, they decided to drop him and he wound his career up as captain for Leicestershire.

It was an interesting book about his cricketing life. He had spent some time in South Africa playing for teams over there for experience. He was not so strong with the bat, but was regularly employed as the night watchman in matches primarily to block the end up.

Very amusing at times, he was a complete character; aptly described by Flintoff as being as mad as a box of frogs. One for the die hard cricket fan.… (meer)