Former swing bowler MATTHEW HOGGARD has launched his own cricket coaching initiative Matthew Hoggard, the former England, Yorkshire and Leicestershire swing bowler, has launched his own cricket coaching initiative in Leicester. Hoggard, a member of England’s triumphant Ashes-winning side of 2005, retired from playing at the end of the 2013 season – and will now use his vast experience and the coaching qualifications he has since obtained in ‘Matthew Hoggard Cricket’ based at the City Cricket Academy at Freemen’s Common. Hoggard has committed to a programme of coaching, master classes and international tours in the Middle East and on the Indian sub-continent. ” I benefitted from some superb coaching when I was a lad and without it I wouldn’t have achieved what I did in the game. I want to give as much back as I can now I have the chance – and this is a great opportunity to pass on my knowledge to help the cricketers of the future,” Hoggard said. ” By getting kids involved in cricket at the earliest possible age we can instill in them the right habits, the correct techniques and an excellent attitude and outlook. I certainly think our approach will help kids with wider life skills as well, and that should serve them well; whatever they go on to do in life.” Hoggard has teamed up with Don Bhagawati, founder and Director of Leicester’s City Cricket Academy and himself an accomplished cricketer who became one of India’s youngest first class players when he made his debut for Assam aged just 16 in 1995. Bhagawati is passionate about cricket and has a genuine desire to encourage every youngster to fulfill their potential, and it’s these qualities that have helped the Academy establish an enviable record as an inclusive centre for coaching excellence since it was established in 2006. Mike Gatting officially opened the Academy’s state of the art centre in 2008. ” We’ve worked so hard since we started in 2006 – and it reflects really well on us that we are now in a position to call upon the services of someone with Matthew Hoggard’s standing in the game,” he said. ” With him joining our team, we will be able to expand our offering and help more youngsters enjoy the game, improve their skills and inspire a winning mentality.” Hoggard and Bhagawati are due to fly out to the Middle East during the April school holidays for a Spring Tour of Dubai, when young cricketers will have the opportunity to learn from a cricketer who has delivered at the very highest international level. They will also experience playing under floodlights and markedly different atmospheric conditions known by players to affect the game so much. The City Cricket Academy designs tours of this nature with the direct intention of developing the leadership skills of young cricketers, adding to their all-round experience of the game and building their confidence. With an emphasis too on the technical side of cricket, the programme is all about building character and preparing youngsters for a bright future in the game. {{ak_sharing}}
