Glamorgan’s Australian-born fast bowler Michael Hogan has spent his first pre-season training in Wales this winter rather than returning to play in his native country.
After completing another week’s net practice he hopes the extra work off the field, which has included attending the Fittair Altitude training centre at the Ufit gym will pay dividends come the new campaign.
“Staying in Wales has meant I’ve not had any game time this winter which has been good for my body,” reflected Hogan, “it’s given me chance to work on a few things.
“It’s the first time in three or four years that I will have had a chance to spend some good time in the gym too doing some proper fitness work so I’m feeling a lot stronger already and hopefully that bodes well for the start of the season.”
As well as investing more time in pre-season preparations Hogan has a young family so has enjoyed spending more time with them this winter too, despite not being able to enjoy the Australian sun.
“The family have followed me round the world the last four years so it was probably time to give them a bit of control over their lives,” Hogan said.
“Our boy is enjoying school over here so it’s been good fun and good to spend some time with the family. It’s not snowed yet, which has been a bonus, it’s probably been quite mild so we’ve really enjoyed it. “
Hogan also admitted the time away from playing hadn’t kept him from enjoying the action as a spectator for once.
“I was watching Big Bash over breakfast in the mornings and watching a few of the old boys go round it’s been nice to catch up with that -
“Obviously the Aussie cricket and England in India has been on as well.
“Everyone needs some sort of inquisition the way they’ve all been going so bad it seems, but it’s good to sit down and watch some cricket, rather than playing it twelve months of the year.”
After a series of outstanding seasons in Glamorgan colours, Hogan's return of 49 first class wickets and 76 in all formats during 2016, left him wanting to improve his own contribution to the team's success. His hopes are that the combination of family relaxation time and putting in the hard yards off the park along with the rest of the squad will deliver a positive impact for the team in 2017.
“I felt like I lost a bit of zip last year and that was probably down to not having pre-season training and not doing the weights or conditioning work so hopefully with all the work that not just me but all the boys have been putting in it should help me get back stronger and start the season well.”