Kyle Hogg is confident he can have a positive impact on Nottinghamshire’s promotion bid in his month-long spell on loan from Lancashire.
LV County Championship Division Two
July 13-16: Notts v Gloucestershire
Start time: 11am
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With Charlie Shreck, AJ Harris, Paul Franks and Mark Footitt ruled out through injury and Ryan Sidebottom unavailable, the 24-year-old goes straight into the XI to take on Gloucestershire with Notts looking to extend their lead at the top of Division Two.
And Hogg is looking forward to playing more first-team cricket with his path blocked at his home county by the likes of James Anderson and Oliver Newby - himself a former Notts loanee.
Said Hogg: “It can be frustrating with the team we have at Lancashire. I want to be playing regular county cricket and I’ve got to the stage in my career where I think I should be doing that.
“I suppose that means I’ve got a bit of a point to prove here but I’m not really thinking of it like that. It’s just good to get out in the middle to play some cricket and I’ll be doing everything I can to help Notts win games.
“I would love to play for Lancashire but I’m not an 18-year-old just starting out. Ryan Sidebottom is a great example of what a player can achieve if he makes the move away from his home club.”
Director of Cricket Mick Newell acted quickly to bring in Hogg once Franks suffered a recurrence of his ankle injury against Essex at Chelmsford.
Newell had been conscious of the possible need to bring in extra bodies since Charlie Shreck went down with a bruised shin during the Twenty20 Cup group matches.
And with Lancashire’s large group of seamers, he immediately made the call to his opposite number Mike Watkinson to enquire about Hogg.
He added: “We’ve known about Kyle’s potential for a while and with the size of the Lancashire squad, there was always the chance he might be available.
“I’ve got a pretty good relationship with the management at Lancashire and they were happy to offer him the chance of some first team cricket. He’ll have an important role to play in the next few weeks.”
Injury news:
While Newell’s resources are stretched, Will Jefferson, Harris and Footitt will all be having a fitness test with the Second XI against Essex at Worksop College on Friday.
Franks has gone for a scan on his ankle, while Shreck is now off his crutches and should begin a rehabilitation programme within a fortnight.
Stephen Fleming has recovered from the back spasm that ruled him out at Chelmsford and comes back into the squad.
Simon Francis steps up to replace the absent Sidebottom.
Squad:
Gallian, Shafayat, Wagh, Fleming (capt), Hussey, Patel, Read (wkt), Ealham, Swann, Hogg, Ferley, Francis.
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