Famous 2005

Roller-coaster series brings back memories for Hoggy

- by MIKE WALTERS

MATTHEW HOGGARD is proud that the red-hot Ashes of 2005 is firing England’s bid to win their spicy series with India this summer.

Going to The Oval 2-1 up in a ding-dong five-match showdown? Hoggard has been there and done that 20 years ago as Michael Vaughan’s heroes recaptured the urn in a seismic summer when cricket was the only show in town.

Now England are in the same boat after a tetchy, thrilling win at Lord’s and a sour finish to the stalemate at Old Trafford as Ben Stokes fed two Indian batters joke bowling to bring up their centuries when they refused to shake hands on the draw earlier.

And Hoggard was thrilled the class of 2005 was namechecked by Joe Root as one of his inspirations growing up after Yorkshire's batting royalty unfurled his 38th Test century at the weekend.