http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/jun/01/matthew-hoggard-may-leave-yorkshire

Might be harsh but maybe his wages would be better spent on a player who can contribute in more forms? He should really be destroying county batting in the CC but it's not happening

To be fair, there aren't many bowlers around who are "destroying" county batting. Though there are a few groundsmen who are destroying county bowling. One of the staff at Edgbaston was boasting recently that the wicket was test match standard "because it would last for six or seven days"!

If we're not careful all the pitches will resemble the Scarborough bowler's graveyards of the late 80's & early 90's. On papaer describes one as an experimental 11 day pitch whilst Peter Hartley said the bl**dy thing should be dug up !!

All the more reason to spend money on players who are effective in the shorter forms.

Are you saying we should concentrate less on the four day game?
I just think we need pitches that produce better and more balanced games of cricket. I was thinking of going to Taunton for a couple of days and then it occurred to me that I'd probably spend two days watching people score untroubled centuries. Where's the fun in that..
Seam bowlers are becoming an endangered species.

There is obviously more to this than meets the eye. And it is clear he is not happy with his playing time. If he ie ever to get back in the England frame, he needs to play more often - and yes, even OD matches like Vaughan does so the England selectors can see he is still here.

If I were a betting man, I'd say if that if Yorkshire don't play him more, he'll be off to greener pastures. After all, he was offered a 2-year contract, but HE chose NOT to sign it.

Link

Maybe Hoggard has an over-inflated view of his ability and he thinks he deserves to play just because he is an ex-England team member. I think the club have probably realised that he cannot bat and he is only really effective in four day cricket (and some would argue he is not even that at present). Therefore, someone like Shahzad or Patterson or Lee who would cost a fraction of the price would be a better bet in the long run than Hoggard.

I agree: Shahzad, Lee, etc are pecking at his heels. He must know that his days are numbered with Yorkshire, so he's now in "pre-flight" mode. Besides, negotiating via the media will not help his cause or make him any friends in the YCCC boardroom.

As I've pointed out on another post, Hoggard is our best bowler this season in the CC with the most wickets, the best average and the best figures. The season was only 3 matches old when the Twenty20 circus rolled into town. After the three upcoming back-to-back CC matches, lets reassess Hoggy's form, and see whether anyone is indeed snapping at his heels.

I'd like to 2nd YC's comments ... & why do people keep banging on about Shahzad .... the lad is 23 & hasn't yet made it .... not because Yorks don't pick him but because he's been injured for portions of every season he's played for us

I thought by his own admission Hoggy was less than enthusiastic about playing the one day stuff and he found the white ball tricky to control?

Lets face it - he is about to embark on 3 LVCC games in 14 days so I hope the rest has refreshed him and he comes back and takes plenty of wickets in his opening spells.

I also hope the break has given him time to walk his dogs and spend time with his son - lets face it , most of us could not give a stuff about the T20 going on at the moment so why should Hoggy be any different?

Many on this board may not care a stuff about 20/20,but attendances do suggest that many more care to come and see it than the county championship.
Let's keep it in perspective.
Hoggy has been on the ground and practising with the rest of the squad before each match,which would suggest he's very interested.

Link to story

Sounds to me like he's making a few noises in order to see what other offers he gets. His book money will be useful but I imagine he's taken a steep pay cut without his central contract.
Can't imagine he'll get offered too much more anywhere else and Id recommend signing the Yorkshire contract asap.