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CibbuanoBrad Hogg announces retirement from international cricket
February 27th 2008 22:00
I honestly didn't see this one coming...
Brad Hogg has announced his retirement from international cricket after the current Commonwealth Bank Tri-series much to the surprise of his teammates, Cricket Australia and cricket tragics around the nation.
The left-arm spinner's retirement comes a year after the retirements of bowling legends Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, batsmen Damien Martyn, Justin Langer and a month after wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist announced his own retirement from the game.
Perhaps more importantly is the timing of the announcement which has coincided with a severely depleted line-up of spinners on the scene - along with Stuart MacGill, Hogg was really the only other established spinner on the scene and this could have an affect on Australia's impending tour of Sri Lanka with MacGill still not able to resume playing for New South Wales after recent wrist surgery.
Despite never really establishing himself in the test side, Hoggy has been a mainstay in the one-day team since 2003. He is the proud winner of two World Cups and his incredible performances in the Caribbean last year with the ball deserves a lot of credit - his wrong'un was just unplayable at times.
Hogg said his career highlights included being part of Australia's record-equalling 16 consecutive Test wins, playing in two World Cups where the team was undefeated, and "playing alongside legends" such as Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting. His ultimate high, however, was being seen as Warne's peer.
"If someone could have ripped Shane Warne's right arm off I might have had more of a crack," Hogg said. "When I did play in '96 I said I'd never make it unless I played with Warnie in an international match. I think it was 2003 we played two games together and I think that's probably the highlight of my career as a spinner, I actually deserved that spot getting in there with Warnie."
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