Yes, it’s true, two of the MBE Ashes heroes of 2005 (blimey, that was a long time ago, wasn’t it) have been dropped. In the case of Steve ‘Harmy’ Harmison , I think few can argue. He’s struggled since that ball at the start of the 2006 Ashes debacle and has been given plenty of chances since to prove he still has some firepower.
Matthew ‘The Hogster’ Hoggard, on the other hand, has rarely let the side down. True, at times he’s played in places and in conditions that have not suited his particularly English style of attack, but letting the side down is not what he does.
The great Stephen Fry described him on TV, as the coach made its way through Trafalgar Square on that euphoric September Tuesday morn way back, as England’s “sheepdog”. A lovely, huge, soppy, cuddly and dependable shaggy old sheepdog. It’s a description of Hoggy I’ve always liked. It, of course, bears no relation to his cricketing ability or worth to the side, but I feel that all cricket teams should have their own sheepdog.
Whilst the lads Broad and Anderson deserve their chance and I sincerely hope they take wickets aplenty, I do hope it’s not too long before we see Hoggy the Sheepdog back in the Test side.
As for Harmy…who can tell if he’ll send down another wide for England ever again?
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