Hogg announces retirement

27 February 2008

Brad Hogg announces his retirement in Melbourne on Wednesday © Getty Images

Australia spinner Brad Hogg has announced he will retire from international cricket after the end of the Commonwealth Bank Series.

The 37-year-old has played 121 one-day internationals and seven Test matches since making his debut in 1996, and was part of Australia’s triumphant World Cup sides in 2003 and 2007.

Hogg said that he would call time on his spinner after next week’s finals against India.

"My career started against India and I thought if I can play Test cricket against India that would be fantastic," he said.

"I wanted to fight to get back in there and I did it and I achieved what I wanted to achieve."

With Shane Warne’s success, Hogg found his Test appearances limited and the spinner admitted he had thought about ending his international career after last year’s World Cup but reconsidered after Warne’s retirement

The 37-year-old becomes the third Australian in the past month to leave the international arena, joining Adam Gilchrist and Shaun Tait.

Hogg’s retirement poses a real problem for Australia as they are now left without a recognised Test spin bowler with Stuart MacGill still to make a successful comeback from hand surgery late last year.