Spinner Hogg meets with rep cricket sides

FORMER Australian Test Cricketer and World Cup hero, Brad Hogg dropped by Amini Park on Monday to give a helping hand to some of the best cricketers in Papua New Guinea.
Hogg, who was coming back from Lae after being the guest speaker at the Supporting Club of Rugby Union in Morobe (SCRUM) lunch last week, stopped by Amini Park to help the City Pharmacy PNG Lewas and the Hebou PNG Under-19 Garamuts during their training sessions.
Hogg, who has visited PNG before, was delighted to drop in and see some of PNG’s best cricketers in action on the training park.
“It is great to see Brad back in the country and we’re definitely privileged to have him drop by the nets at Amini Park and help some of your national cricketers,” Cricket PNG chief executive officer Greg Campbell said.
George Bradley “Brad” Hogg played seven Test matches for Australia, taking 17 wickets as well as playing 123 One Day Internationals (ODIs), taking 156 wickets.
He was part of the Australian World Cup winning teams in 2003 and 2007, and now currently plays T20 cricket for various franchises around the world including the Melbourne Renegades (Australia) and the Kolkata Knight Riders (India) at the ripe old age of 46.
“Brad was very excited to work with our cricketers and was impressed with some of the talent on hand. We would like to thank SCRUM for allowing Brad to drop in and give our players and coaches an opportunity to work with him,” Campbell said.
Hogg, a left-arm wrist spinner spoke to the sides about areas of improvement in their batting and bowling and game management while impressing upon them the need to work hard and to strive to become better cricketers.
The Western Australian was also impressed by the natural skills on show and the enthusiasm shown by local cricketers.
“I love the enthusiasm shown by PNG cricketers. Cricket is a team sport and every country plays it differently. Australia plays differently to India, while the West Indies are a little more enthusiastic than everyone else. They energise the game, and I think that’s what PNG does too,” Hogg said
“That’s the great thing about cricket and sport in general, you’re able to meet people from different cultures. Playing against and with them, you’re always learning,” he added.
“I’ve been in the country two or three times now, and just seeing the way PNG cricket has taken off, and starting to be a presence in the world has been great.
“The Barramundis are a chance of qualifying for a World Cup and the women’s team are ranked 13th in the world and that’s a credit to the way PNG has progressed in cricket.”
Hogg said PNG’s cricket teams, players and administration needed to continue their progress by always striving to be the best they can be and to be open to what was going on in the cricket world and to learn from that.
He said attributes like discipline, hard work and commitment and dedication was what was needed to be successful in any endeavour and cricket was no different.
“It’s all right having the skill but if you don’t have the drive and don’t put in the work you’ll be sorely upset. Because skill alone is not going to do it,” Hogg said.
“We have to work hard, nothing comes easy.”