MJ Hoggard of England

Full Name:

Matthew James Hoggard

DoB:

Friday, December 31, 1976

Birthplace:

Leeds

Teams:

Yorkshire

Test Debut:

v West Indies at Lord's, 2000

ODI Debut:

v Zimbabwe at Harare, 2001

Bats:

RH

Bowls:

RAFM

Player Record:

link to stats

Swing bowler Matthew Hoggard has been England's form bowler in their last two series against South Africa and Bangladesh.

In South Africa he was as instrumental as Andrew Strauss in England's historic triumph, bowling England into a series-clinching 2-1 lead at Johannesburg with a 12-wicket haul and ending with 26 wickets at 25.50.

Against Bangladesh he took 14 wickets in the two Tests and looked to be approaching top form, only to fall back with some ordinary performances for Yorkshire.

Hoggard's has managed only six wickets in three Ashes Tests, but Australia will face a better bowler than in 2002-03, more accurate and capable of mixing nip-backers with his stock outswingers.

His captain and county teammate Michael Vaughan has helped Hoggard in clarifying and simplifying his role, urging him to concentrate on bowling maidens and labelling him the man who "sweeps the shop floor", to keep things tidy for the side's more charismatic performers.

Hoggard is often seen as a captain's dream, tirelessly running in and giving it his all, but he can also be prone to spells of self-doubt when he has a hangdog look and loses his confidence.

But he is an integral part of England's attack of four radically different bowlers, and has become a useful blocker with the bat and reliable nightwatchman.

Matthew Hoggard had a brilliant series in South Africa but he's not been bowling exceptionally well for Yorkshire this season.

What he has to realise is that he is not a fast bowler but a fast-medium bowler who can't bowl people out through sheer pace.

What he needs is swing and to take wickets with swing you've got to have control and bowl the right lines consistently. It's a patience job.

Steve Harmison and Brett Lee can explode into the crease and bowl somebody out at 90mph. When you're a swing bowler you've got to put the batsmen under pressure.

Sometimes he gets his rhythm wrong trying to bowl too quickly and sometimes he tries to bowl too many magic balls that pitch leg and hit off. Fred Trueman bowled millions of balls like that – but only in his mind.

He's got to cut down the scoring rate and create pressure situations by bowling maidens. Michael Vaughan calls him his banker bowler and that requires tight, disciplined lines to cut down the four balls.