Australian club cricket a boost for Flintoff, says Hoggard
by CricketArchive Staff Reporter
DateLine: 27th July 2006
England fast bowler Matthew Hoggard said on Wednesday that Australian
club cricket could be a real boost for Andrew Flintoff in helping him
return from an ankle injury for this winter’s Ashes series.
Hoggard also believes it would be mutually beneficial and said: "Every
opposition does it to us. They send their players to county cricket to
get used to the pitches and to the conditions, and I think it would be
a good help if he can get over there to get some miles under him."
The Yorkshire bowler, who himself was a major injury doubt prior to the
first Test against Pakistan after suffering a gashed hand in a bizarre
training accident, bemoaned news of the latest fitness scare for
England as his fellow paceman Liam Plunkett is set to miss the next two
Tests and possibly the entire summer with a side strain.
Hoggard said: "It's disappointing news about Liam. He is obviously a
talented cricketer and he has shown us what he can do. Unfortunately he
is another one that has succumbed to injury."
