Yorkshire release Hoggard

[Sureshot]

Pretty big news, quite unexpected.

Former England seamer Matthew Hoggard is shocked and bitterly disappointed at Yorkshire's decision not to renew his contract after 15 years at the club.

Hoggard, 32, claims the county are letting him go for financial reasons.

"I'm disappointed, gutted, angry, a mixture of thoughts and emotions," Hoggard told BBC Sport.

Yorkshire have said Hoggard rejected an "extremely competitive" offer at the start of the season - a claim the player has disputed.

"I didn't turn it down. There wasn't one point where I said 'I'm not signing that'," Hoggard said.

"We were in talks about renewing the contract, there were talks about lengthening it from two to three years, there were talks about me being captain next year.

"We were in negotiations and then all of a sudden the negotiations went from negotiations to 'we're not offering you a contract at all'."

Hoggard has only ever played domestic cricket for Yorkshire, making his county debut in 1996, and has gone on to take 668 wickets in 195 first-class matches.

BBC SPORT | Cricket | Counties | Leicestershire | Leicestershire seek Hoggard deal

 

[Kev]

Not really unexpected. Was pretty common knowledge that it was going to happen. I was a a Kent Q&A at the end of the season and someone asked if we'd consider signing him. Bacially we were told he most likely would not be considered value for money. ie No Cash and probably a bit too old.

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

there was suggestions on that cricinfo thing that perhaps his personality has become a bit difficuly (or has always been but his talent meant it was put up with) given that once england decided he was droppable they never even reconsidered picking him again and now yorkshire have sacked him without a blink.

 

[gougie]

Not near the player he was, still Yorkshire's leading wicket taker this season, but two very different stories coming out of the club, and Hoggard himself, but whatever the reason he will be missed.

 

[MUFC1987]

Worcestershire and Leicestershire interested apparently. What a fall from grace. Surprised more Counties higher up the pecking order aren't having a look.