LATE bloomer Michael Hogan hopes to continue his professional cricket career past his 40th birthday.
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The Novocastrian fast bowler, who was playing for Cricketers Arms Hotel in B2 City and Suburban ranks as a 21-year-old, is in limbo as he waits to learn when, or if, his ninth season of county cricket with Glamorgan will start.
Hogan, who has taken more than 800 wickets in professional cricket since debuting for Western Australia as a 28-year-old, is off contract at the end of this year.
But the right-armer, who turns 40 in May next year, feels he still has another full season left in him.
"Everything is on hold at the moment until we can get back to training and playing," Hogan told the Newcastle Herald.
"I'm definitely keen to go around again next year, but I'd suggest that will probably be my last.
"I've still got a few things I'd like to achieve. I'd like to have one last crack at winning a trophy with Glamorgan, whether that's winning promotion or a one-day or T20 title, it doesn't matter.
"One last dip at that. I feel like I've got one more year left in me."
Hogan came closest to a trophy with Glamorgan in 2013, when he took 4-49 from eight overs in the Yorkshire Bank Cup (40-over) final at Lord's, only to lose to Nottingham.
I feel like I've got one more year left in me.
- MICHAEL HOGAN
Hogan's statistics last year, when he took 46 first-class wickets at 21.17 in 11 matches, suggest he is still one of the most effective bowlers in the county championship.
And physically he seems to have defied Father Time.
"In the lockdown, it can be quite tricky to find motivation when you're out there running by yourself," he said.
"But some of my times have been as quick as I was doing 10 years ago. So I've still got a bit of fire left in the belly yet."
The English season has now been suspended for almost two months, and county professionals have been "furloughed", which means the government are continuing to pay up to 80 per cent of their wages. People are allowed outside for one hour's exercise per day.
"We've just been told in the last week or so that they're hoping to start playing games on July 1," Hogan said.
"And it looks like the ECB are trying to extend the season as long as they possibly can, maybe into October.
"So it looks like there will be some cricket. Maybe not a lot of red-ball cricket, but hopefully some white-ball stuff."
Glamorgan announced last year that 2020 would be Hogan's testimonial year, which he described as a "fantastic honour". The county is now exploring options to postpone it until next season.
"The Glamorgan board voted to defer it to next year, but there are a few legislative issues with the ECB and the tax office, so we're waiting to hear from them," Hogan said.
"I think there are five or six players around the country with testimonial years, and we're all in the same boat.
"Hopefully that outcome is favourable and we can just crack on with it next year.
"It's a bit of a shame, but I think there are a lot worse things to take into account than a testimonial year."
Despite the horrendous toll COVID-19 has exacted in the United Kingdom, Hogan said he and wife Rachel never seriously considered bringing their young family back to Australia.
"This is our home now. We've got the kids in school and all that sort of stuff to take into account," he said.
"We're actually dealing with it quite well, I think. Compared to England, Wales has been relatively OK."