Matthew Hoggard's 5 Most Memorable England Moments

The news that former England paceman Matthew Hoggard is to retire has been greeted with a great deal of sadness around the cricket world.

The Yorkshire and Leicestershire seamer currently sits seventh (per ESPNCricinfo) on England’s all-time wicket-taking list, having taken 248 Test match scalps since making his debut in 2000 against the West Indies.

With that in mind, let’s take a look back at five memorable moments in Hoggard’s international career.

Debut vs. West Indies (2000)

Hoggard made his England debut in the second match of the famous Wisden Trophy series against the West Indies in 2000 at Lord’s.

England had been soundly beaten in the first Test by the visitors, but things changed as an inspired Andrew Caddick bowled them out for 54 in the second innings of this game.

Needing 188 to win, England snuck home with just two wickets remaining thanks to Dominic Cork and Darren Gough.

The then-24 year old only bowled in the first innings of the match, going 0-49 in 13 overs before making 12 not out when required to bat.

He was grateful not to be required second time around as Cork and Gough took England home, sitting on the players’ balcony with his pads on looking like “a man facing the guillotine.”

First Five-Wicket Haul vs. New Zealand (2002)

With the injury problems that dogged Darren Gough and Dominic Cork, Hoggard was increasingly thrust into the spotlight as one of England’s leading seam bowlers.

He took the new ball in the first Test against New Zealand on March 13, 2002 in Christchurch and took 7-63 in 21.2 overs for his first five-wicket haul in Tests.

England eventually prevailed over their hosts by 98 runs after both teams combined to score 919 runs in their second innings.

And while Hoggard took just 1-142 in 24.3 overs, that one wicket was the crucial one of Nathan Astle, who had scored 222 from 168 balls to nearly lead the Black Caps to a famous win.

Hat-Trick vs. West Indies (2004)

Just over two years later, Hoggard was back facing the West Indies again, this time in the Caribbean at the start of what was a very successful year for England.

After victories at Kingston and Port of Spain in the first two Tests, England arrived in Bridgetown, Barbados full of confidence and hopeful of taking advantage of the hosts’ brittle batting.

The West Indies collapsed again in the second innings thanks to Matthew Hoggard, who removed Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ryan Hinds in consecutive deliveries for a superb hat-trick.

England won that game by eight wickets, with Hoggard’s hat-trick one of the defining moments of the series.

12 Wickets vs. South Africa (2004)

Later that year, after England had won all seven home Tests against New Zealand and the West Indies, they travelled to South Africa for their toughest Test before the 2005 Ashes.

Another absorbing series was finally secured in the fourth Test at Johannesburg, with Hoggard once again to the fore.

He took 5-144 in South Africa’s first innings of 419, helping restrict the hosts to a lead of just eight runs after England had been dismissed for 411.

Then, in a stunning spell of swing bowling as the Proteas chased 325 to win, Hoggard took 7-61 to lead England to a famous win at the Bullring by 77 runs.

England secured a draw in the final match of the series to win the Basil D’Oliveira Trophy, with Hoggard’s 12 wickets in the previous game crucial to their success.

Winning Runs vs. Australia at Trent Bridge (2005)

The 2005 Ashes series needs little introduction, with the fourth Test at Trent Bridge one of Hoggard’s defining moments in an England shirt.

After making Australia follow on, the hosts were set 129 to win but were faltering towards their target as Brett Lee and Shane Warne took seven wickets between them.

However, in a nerveless display of batting bravery, Hoggard and Ashley Giles pushed England towards their target amid almost unbearable tension in Nottingham.

Hoggard’s cover drive for four secured the victory for the home side, a crucial win in a gripping series.