Hogg greedy for more silverware

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Recalling Lancashire's build-up to winning the County Championship, Kyle Hogg said: "We believed we could win it this time last year and we went on to win it."

Kyle Hogg is confident Lancashire can retain their LV= County Championship title next season.

The Red Rose were seen by many as relegation candidates at the start of this season but silenced their critics in style, fighting off a major challenge from Warwickshire to collect their first outright championship crown since 1934 with an impressive eight-wicket victory over Somerset on the last day of the campaign.

The champions face a fight to defend their prestigious prize in 2012, with the arrival of ambitious Surrey and experienced Middlesex in the top flight as well as other counties significantly strengthening their ranks in preparation for a title push.

Despite the intense competition, 28-year-old seamer Hogg insists Lancashire have the belief to defy the odds and win back-to-back championships.

Asked about his side’s chances of topping the Division One table in 2012, Hogg told ecb.co.uk: “We have to believe we can otherwise there is no point turning up for the first game of the season.

“We believed we could win it this time last year and we went on to win it. We definitely believe that now and that has given us great confidence to hopefully win another trophy.”

The seamer played a major role in Lancashire’s unexpected triumph, forming a formidable opening partnership with the experienced Glen Chapple and at times keeping former England paceman Sajid Mahmood out of the side.

He excelled with the new ball, rewarding head coach Peter Moores’ faith by snaring 50 scalps in 11 matches at an average of 18.80.

The Warwickshire-born right-armer believes he has improved as a bowler and would relish the opportunity to fulfil his goals in every format but understands, with the amount of cricket played, a big squad is important.

“He knew one-day bowling inside out; it was good to watch and chat with him about different methods,” Hogg said of Junaid Khan

“I’ve made a lot of mistakes along the way, but all of a sudden last season it came together at the right time,” he said.

“I want to play (in) everything. I think the way it worked out last year, myself and Glen Chapple were bowling well in the four-day game and there were other bowlers that were playing in the one-dayers.

“We had two overseas players, Junaid Khan and Farveez Maharoof, who were out and out one-day bowlers. It was good how we could have two squads of bowlers in different competitions. The way English cricket is made up, it’s pretty much difficult to play in every game of the summer.”

Hogg hailed the influence of Chapple in the championship and the unexpected impact Pakistan seamer Junaid had on the limited-overs side, with Lancashire just missing out on the Friends Life t20 final after an agonising semi-final one-over eliminator defeat to eventual winners Leicestershire.

“Chappie is brilliant to talk to; he knows bowling inside out,” he added. “He seems to get better as he gets older; every year he gets even more wickets than the previous year and you still can’t believe he is still running into bowl.

“To have Junaid with us, who was pretty much an unknown name, and watch him bowl yorkers at the end of an innings was great. He knew one-day bowling inside out; it was good to watch and chat with him about different methods.”

Lancashire’s successful side was packed with local talent such as Steven Croft, Karl Brown and Simon Kerrigan.

“It would be good to get an overseas batter in there somewhere because we lost Mark Chilton (who has now retired)," Hogg said

Despite the younger players complimenting the experienced professionals, Hogg admits he would be keen to see an overseas batsman arrive at Old Trafford to strengthen their championship defence.

“We have got a great mix of youth and experience, but I think it would be good to get an overseas batter in there somewhere because we lost Mark Chilton (who retired at the end of the summer),” he said.

“Even though it creates a great opportunity for one of the younger batters, it is always good to have an overseas player like we had in the past with (VVS) Laxman and (Shivnarine) Chanderpaul. I think it would be a great lift for any batsmen to bat with them.”

A confident Hogg is aware Lancashire’s quest for another top-flight triumph will be harder than ever with an array of sides capable of reaching the summit come next September, including Chris Adams’ emerging Surrey side.

“The teams coming up, if you look at Surrey’s team they are pretty similar to us,” he said.

”They are young lads and desperate to win and Middlesex have got (Steven) Finn. If he's not in the Test team, he will make a big impact bowling every week for them. I don’t think there is any team you can say are easy games. Everybody is as good as each other and that’s what you want first division cricket to be.

“We will train even better and harder this winter to be prepared for every single game of the season. If you don’t play well, you get beat.”

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