Matthew Hoggard mulls over Oval: ‘It's been hard graft for bowlers on both sides, but we score quicker than India, so…'

Indian Express

4 days ago

Ashes hero Matthew Hoggard emerged from his barbecue kitchen of the restaurant he runs, after hearing Joe Root talk about the 2005 batch inspiring England. Recalling all memories, good, bad, and deeply embarrassing from that series 20 years ago, he said Oval could get suitably exciting all over again when India look to level the series with a win and England aiming for 3-1.
Hoggy preceded the Bazball era, while still playing interesting cricket without a label, but shared the present day crinkle nosedness for a draw – especially at the Oval.
'It's going to be survival of the fittest and it reminds me of 2005. You can't go to The Oval and play for a draw because you'll come unstuck if the mentality isn't right,' he told Mirror.co.uk.
Hoggy's advice for the English was to make their batting sing given bowlers on both sides were expected to be knackered.
'In an ideal world we (them England) bat first, go big and put India under pressure to match us or go past us. England have more gears in the batting line-up than India, especially if they are going to be without Rishabh Pant. It's been hard graft for bowlers on both sides, but we score quicker than India and if they have to put their foot down to chase the game, that's when The Oval can be a tricky customer,' he told Mirror.co.uk.
Recalling what brought him out of his apron and away from plating at his kitchen, Hoggard narrated how Joe Root's words had an impact after he became second highest Test run getter.
'Listening to Joe being interviewed, after he had just become the second-greatest run scorer of all time in Test cricket, saying he had been inspired by the Ashes winners of 2005 was music to my ears. That's why we play cricket – to leave a legacy, and leave something behind to inspire younger generations, still gives you goosebumps. I think back to 2005 with 10,000 people being turned away from the final day at Old Trafford, people bunking off work or school to watch the finale at The Oval and, yes, it was the best of times,' a nostalgic Hoggy said.
However getting ahead to the Open top bus might prove foolhardy for England.
Back then, the celebrations had been heady. 'When I look at footage of the open-top bus parade to Trafalgar Square, and none of us look sober, in the social media age we would probably have been crucified but I genuinely can't remember anyone giving us any stick. We went round the Prime Minister's house a bit worse for wear, went to Trafalgar Square for the parade a bit bleary-eyed and went back to Lord's for a reception in a state of disrepair – but nobody minded because we were winners.'
The nerve-jangling climax in 2005, as described by Mirror, was only settled by Kevin Pietersen's audacious 158 on the final afternoon.
'We had gone 2-1 up at Trent Bridge in an unbearably tense finish when I was hiding under towels and trembling in the physio's room, unable to watch as the wickets fell as we chased 129 to win,' Hoggard who is now working as one of the UK's leading Motivational Speakers, told Mirror Sport.
His workhorse bowling had played its part but it was his batting that makes the highlights reels. 'But when it was my turn to bat, with 13 runs still needed and Brett Lee's bowling 95mph rockets, you switch on and it gets easier – because you're the one who is empowered to take charge and get the job done,' he recalled.
'Lee was either trying to kill me or york me, but when he got one wrong and I managed to send it to the extra cover boundary I think Vaughany (captain Michael Vaughan) nearly fell off the balcony. I'm not sure he'd ever seen me hit an extra cover drive before,' he said in a hoot to Mirror.
'As Ashley Giles, who hit the winning runs, and I walked off, he said, 'Enjoy the moment, we're kings for the night.' He was right – our pace attack was called the Fab Four but it was really a fab five because Gilo was the forgotten man of that bowling unit. He was immense. when we got to The Oval for the final Test, the nerves took over again. The night before I was out for dinner with my wife and I was so uptight I called for the bill and walked out. My head was all over the place, I'm afraid I was a bit of a t**t.'
At Old Trafford England's pace attack had been denied on the field for 143 overs as they chased victory in vain at Old Trafford, which brought on the comparisons with the 2005 Manchester Test. Back then, in the third Test, Ricky Ponting had hit 156, and Lee and Glen McGrath held on for 371-9 with Flintoff snaring 4, and captain Punter dismissed in 104th over of 108 bowled, frustrating England bowlers unable to get the Aussies. However this time, England have only the Oval Test to bank on, and no Messrs Harmison, Hoggard, Flintoff, Jones.