Debasis Sen in Perth
Brad Hogg, the former Australian left-arm wrist spinner, is eagerly waiting to watch the contest between Virat Kohli and Pat Cummins’ team in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The 53-year-old cricketer from Western Australia took some time from his busy schedule for an exclusive interaction at the Manning Bowling Club. According to Hogg, it will be a difficult series for India this time. He also shared his views on the absence of Rohit Sharma in the series opener, Gautam Gambhir as coach of Indian team, the Rishabh Pant factor, whether Ravichandran Ashwin should be in the playing XI and a lot more. Here are the excerpts:
What are your thoughts on the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy?
Brad Hogg: Look, it is going to be a difficult series for India. I think they will miss [Mohammed] Shami. I think that is a big loss. But they have still got plenty of talent in the bowling department. But that experience, especially in Australian conditions, I think that is going to be a bit of a highlight, though they have won a Test match or two here, especially on the harder grounds without their big-name players there. So, for me, I think they have got youth on their side and they have got exuberance, and they want to turn things around with what happened against New Zealand on their home soil.
Virat Kohli’s form is not good. Rohit Sharma, is he going to be here for the first Test match, let alone the second? When your leader’s not here, that is going to be a big problem as well. But his form is not up to scratch as well.
Talking about Rohit’s absence, how big a blow will it be for India in the first Test at the Optus Stadium?
Hogg: It is going to be a huge blow, simply because you need your leader there. But when your leader hasn’t been doing well and there are probably a few question marks with his form there, should he be in the team at this stage? That just adds more pressure to the playing group that is there. But also, adds that extra pressure to Gautam Gambhir. I do not think you should be questioning Gambhir at this stage. I think whatever happens here in Australia, it does not matter with his longevity as coach. I think he has got to stamp his authority there. He has got to gel with the players. And over time, I think he will be the type of coach that will have a lot of success for India.
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Virat Kohli has a great record against the Australians, but in recent times he has not been in the best of form. Your thoughts?
Hogg: Simply the fact that he relishes playing in Australia and that challenge. I think there will be a lot of pressure on him. But he has got a lot of fight. I have always loved the way that he has played out in the middle. He is one of the best players I have ever seen in the game of cricket with the bat. I just hope that he stands up over here and delivers and puts pressure on the Australian team because I want to see a close contest. It is not just about your team winning. For the benefit of Test cricket moving forward, we want to see the big names performing and we want to see Virat Kohli doing well against the likes of Cummins, [Josh] Hazlewood and [Mitchell] Starc. Probably the best pace attack going around in world cricket now.
What is that one thing that impresses you the most about Virat?
Hogg: It is just his hunger. But he also likes to be in your face. He wants to be in the contest. He wants that big moment. I was just watching him against New Zealand. I just thought it was not controlled aggression that he was having out there. He stormed out and then just wanted to play the aggressive strokes. During the recent series against New Zealand, he was trying to control the pace of the game, but be more aggressive at the start of his innings than what I have seen in previous years. He has got to get back to that aggressive build, work to 10, work to 20, then suddenly, he’s got the pace of the pitch, he’s got the measure of the bowlers, and then he can go up a gear. I think now, he is just not finding the right gears at the right time. He is trying to be in gear three rather than gear one when he should be in gear one.
EXCLUSIVE: Brad Hogg shares his thoughts on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy:
💬 On Kohli’s hunger for the contest
💬 Rishabh Pant’s fearless approach
💬 Ashwin & Jadeja’s crucial role in Perth
Plus, his prediction for the series! @debasissen @imVkohli @ashwinravi99 @RishabhPant17… pic.twitter.com/xYSoftBswI— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) November 20, 2024
How big a role will Rishabh Pant play for India in the upcoming series?
Hogg: You never know what is going to happen with Rishabh Pant. I love that about him. He puts pressure on the opposition bowlers, and he is perfect coming in at No. 5. I think if you can have him coming in at No. 5 and have a specialist come in after him at No. 6, it just eases the pressure off both Pant and the player that is coming in after him. Rishabh plays with no fear, and you’ve got to remember he’s had a lease of life. He’s come back from that tragic accident, and thank God he’s back playing, but he’ll probably have in the back of his mind that I’ve got a second opportunity in life here, I’m very lucky, I’m just going to go out there and enjoy it. And when you’ve got someone playing like that at international cricket, it’s like your last game in international cricket, whatever happens, happens, and you just play with a lot more freedom. There’s no pressure on you, and I think that’s the danger of Rishabh Pant, he plays with that type of attitude, and that’s what you’ve got to try and get your mind into when you’re playing.
Ashwin has an incredible record against the Smith, Labuschagne and Khawaja? Do you want to see Ashwin in that Indian playing XI for Perth test?
Hogg: I think both Ashwin and Jadeja should play. Jadeja is very good in the first innings, I think with the ball skidding on over here with the greener wickets, but as the wicket wears down, this is where Ashwin comes into it, so they have got two spinners that are unique in a sense that they are going to give the team benefit on the different days of the Test match, if you can understand what I am saying there. It is more the overspin that gets Nathan Lyon’s success here, rather than the sidespin that you get over in India, and that is what I love about Ashwin. He spent time to go over to England and try and get that overspin and be able to adjust to foreign conditions. So Ashwin’s just as effective here as what Lyon is, but Lyon has been doing it all his life, whereas Ashwin’s been playing on the subcontinent a lot more.
Your predictions on the series?
Hogg: I think you have got to favour Australia 3-2 at least because we are playing Perth, in Brisbane, then Adelaide with the night-ball test. I just think with our pace attack now, with the experience they have, the knowledge of Australian conditions, they should get on top with a more experienced pace attack. But, Gambhir as the coach, I know there has been a lot of talk about him, but I think he playing that mentor role, with the inexperienced bowling attack over here. I think he is the perfect man for the job.
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