Hogg determined to keep top spinner tag - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Hogg determined to keep top spinner tag

By Tom Wald 25/04/2006 07:19:12 PM Comments (0)

Brad Hogg has no intention of giving up his mantle as Australia's leading one-day spinner to upstart Dan Cullen before next year's cricket World Cup.

Energetic left-armer Hogg has carved out a more than handy one-day career during Shane Warne's limited-overs retirement and collected his 100th one-day scalp last Sunday.

But the West Australian faces a fresh challenge for his position as the team's No.1 spinner with the emergence of South Australian Cullen.

Cullen (0-36 off 10 overs) was impressive on debut against Bangladesh in Chittagong on Sunday but Hogg (3-37 in 10) was outstanding and Australia's best bowler on the spin-friendly deck.

They are both set for another crack at Bangladesh at Fatullah Stadium on Wednesday with Australia naming an unchanged side for game two of the three-match series.

The tourists can wrap up the series with a victory before Friday's third and final match.

There will be plenty more World Cup auditions for the duo with the Champions Trophy in India and home one-dayers next summer still to be played.

Hogg believed he was in the form of his career and expected himself and Cullen to both make the squad for the World Cup in the West Indies.

"They took two spinners to the last World Cup and I can't see why they won't this time," he said.

"It looks like it is going to be Dan or myself or either one of us, but we have to keep performing to keep our spots. As they say you don't give a sucker an even chance."

The former postman never thought he'd last so long on the international stage after his career was re-ignited at the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.

Warne's one-year drug ban handed a rare opening for a spin bowler in the national side and Hogg enjoyed a rapid rise as Australia claimed a second straight World Cups.

He said he was hungry for another shot in the Caribbean.

"As things get closer I think it was halfway through last year (it became) one of those goals where I wanted to defend something that I have done before," he said.

Hogg, 35, has taken 101 wickets at 28.88 with an economy rate of 4.52 in 83 one-dayers while averaging just over 20 with his late-order hitting.

Despite being at an age where most players are at least considering retirement, Hogg is still one of the most lively players in the Australian line-up.

He thought 22-year-old Cullen was the man most likely to lead Australia's spin attack in both forms of the game in the future.

"It is good that Dan has got a crack and he has a little taste of international cricket," he said.

"He is probably going to be our main spinner once Warne and MacGill go in the Test arena and hopefully he can play a big part in the one-dayers as well from now on."

Bangladesh has made two changes for the second match with Mohammad Ashraful, the hero of Bangladesh's upset win over Australia in Cardiff last June, being dropped.

Alok Kapali comes into the team and Shahadat Hossain replaces Syed Rasel.

Australia: Adam Gilchrist, Simon Katich, Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Brad Hogg, Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken, Mitchell Johnson, Dan Cullen. 12th man: James Hopes.

Bangladesh: Shahriar Nafees, Rajin Saleh, Aftab Ahmed, Alok Kapali, Habibul Bashar, Khaled Mashud, Mohammad Rafique, Mushrafe Mortaza, Shahadat Hossain, Abdur Razzak, Tushar Imran. 12th man: to be named.

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