Quote:
Originally Posted by Collyisamackem  Whatever side we play, Hoggard has to be in it - he's done nothing to deserve being dropped save for being the workhorse and class act of the team for years. |
Exactly
One reason why i cant stand the media at times (though i dream of becoming a sports analyst/journalist one day
) is how they over react at things, which then causes things like this.
Surely, 1 bad game in 5 years of test cricket, the highest standard of cricket possible is not worthy of, not only being dropped:
- Your international future under pressure
- Your ex coach criticizing you openly in the papers, saying you lost your "zip"
- People doubting your fitness/form based on 1 game
- People thinking your now a county bowler
- Even your captain, albeit giving some support, saying its time to breed a new selection of quicks?
Shocking. When we watch England in ODIs, do we not see the same batsmen fail time after time? Do we not see Anderson and co get smacked around the grounds time after time? They are given chances to redeem themselves, and in my views if he played in the last 2 tests in NZ he would have come back stronger, cause thats the sort of character he is, and has been.
When watching him in the opening test, he looked fitter, trimmer and raring to go. Yes, fitness wasnt all there, just like it wouldnt for any player whos missed the majority of 18 months through injury, but ask the Hamps batsmen if they think hes back now. Depends how he goes till the 1st test this summer, playing another county game and maybe 1-2 1 day games, how many overs/wickets he gets under his belt.
I still think, when we reach the last test in the English summer, England vs South Africa, he will be in that starting 11, having played in all tests previously vs NZ + SA all summer, and having a handful of wickets to his name too.