You Aussies are so damn modest aren't ya? Well, at least we have rugby..

 

You are spot on Bondy.

 

There are a lot of "What If's" with players like Hogg, and for instant some of the extremely prolific South African players who did not get to play many tests/ODIs but were awesome in the First Class Arena.

 

Hogg hasn't been what I would consider awesome, he is a moderate a player among the greats. But the enthusiasm he brings and his uniqueness as a chinaman bowler brings something great to the game and I always love watching him play.

 

Vettori had he played in a more successful side probably would have been able to relax a tad more and maybe perform better, however he has two massive hauls vs. Australia in tests which is a mean feat and he has always been a great ODI bowler (one of the best spinners in ODI history I believe).

 

I think Vettori brings to the game a good attitude. He is hard working and an honest cricketer. He is truly a bowler, but because he is such a natually talented player and a hard worker he has been able to carve out a rather good competency with the bat, the fact that he has test tons and got that 90+ score in a test when he was still in his teens shows this. I do believe Hogg is more naturally talented with the bat, but Vettori is more likely to have success in the batting arena.

 

Vettori will always be remembered as one of the great Kiwi players with Crowe, Cairns and Hadlee (A truly short list).

 

I believe Vettori can be a good skipper, but he already has so much responsibility on him

 

I also respect the fact that Daniel chose not to bowl the doosra. Citing that he believes it to be too difficult to bowl legitimately. In fact, he doesn't even need it.

 

Hogg's variation and hard to pick fast action makes him more of a "strike" bowler, but overall Vettori is proven.

 

I would still think that Hogg, given the chance as a young man would have been as prolific, if not more so.

 

Jon

Hogg is a match-winning bowler in the ODI arena (which is the only place you can compare them), I do not think Vettori can win matches more competently.

Hogg's variation, and excellent control for a wrist spinner is the pivot point. His flight and turn supersedes Vettori.

Hogg is also an extremely enthusiastic fieldsman, very quick, safe hands and has hit the stumps quite a lot.

Hogg has seldom been afforded the opportunity to bad, but in tense situations, like the VB series final in 2002 when Australia collapsed badly he went out and got 71 to save the game. He has shown in the strong Pura Cup arena that he can get runs and was originally a batsman.

Vettori, being in a weaker side has had a great deal of pressure on his bowling and like many similar sides, the lower order is important and he is a part of that.

 

If Hogg was New Zealander I am sure that he would be the no.1 spinner. If not, he would be no.2, but only to the super talented Daniel Vettori.