Matthew Hoggard Interview
Posted by on 28 Jul 09 in sport
We caught up with the Yorkshire and England bowler for a chat about this Summer's Ashes, Andrew Flintoff and all things cricket.
What do you think the chances are of an English victory?
I think they're good at the moment. We've seen in the first test and the second test that whoever plays we've got a great chance of victory.
Would you be surprised if Australia didn't win a test?
Giving it's Edgbaston, Headlingly, The Oval - no.
You think we can do a whitewash on them?
I wouldn't be surprised if we did.
Freddie Flintoff retiring - most of the England squad have said they understand his decision. Do you agree?
Yeah, I do agree - His body's said he needs to stop - his ankle and his knee are telling him that it's time.
He's gonna miss it isn't he?
Yeah - he loves the crowd, he loves performing for England, he's a big character so hopefully he'll still be there for England in the one dayers, in 20-20 and of course the IPL has given him a bigger stage to perform.
Do you think we should be playing less test cricket? If we played less tests they might matter even more?
Umm, I don't think so, I think England play a lot of tests because they're the only test playing team in the Northern Hemisphere. If you ask the players they all love playing Test cricket - it's the true format of cricket.
As much as the One Dayers and 20-20 are exciting, nothing's as exciting as the last day of a test is it?
Nah, especially if there's a result either way - the beauty of the One Dayers and the 20-20 is they've got the big crowds there. 20-20 has got the young kids interested in the game and a lot of interest back into the game. But if you speak to the people who really love their cricket they always say that the 5 day format is the best way.
There is a lot more interest in cricket since 2005. Do we need to start making our grounds bigger like football stadiums and potentially reducing the cost of tickets?
Yeah, if you look around the grounds stands are being built all the time and facilities are getting better all the time as well. That's all in hand and it's gearing up for the future. If you look at football - the games cost more for 90 minutes, £40 for a game that lasts from 11 unitl 6'o'clock is quite good value really.
- Take the Ultimate Ashes quiz
- Read An Idiot's Guide to the Ashes
- Check out The Top 10 Funniest Cricket Sledging exchanges
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OLD IMAGE HERE: http://static.dave.uktv.co.uk/site_media/images/uploaded/2009/07/28/Matthew-with-phone-120.jpgMathew Hoggard launched the Sony Ericsson W995 with three months free Sky Mobile TV exclusively on 3.
