Daniel Hogg: A Talent in Durham's Cricket

It’s hard to overlook Daniel Hogg, and after an outstanding weekend, his name is bound to be on everyone’s lips. Towering at 6ft 7in, the Durham seamer casts a shadow that stretches across the entire outfield in the Chester-le-Street evening sunshine. However, it was his first-class debut performance that truly stood out, with astonishing figures of seven for 66, offering England a promising glimpse of the future.

Durham secured an innings-and-17-run victory over Nottinghamshire, largely thanks to the 19-year-old Hogg, who began an extraordinary 24 hours on Saturday by claiming his maiden wicket in professional red-ball cricket and ended with impressive match figures of eight for 100.

Hogg’s performance was remarkable by any standard, especially considering the absence of former New Zealand seamer Neil Wagner due to injury, the favourable pitch that saw Durham amass 531 runs in their first innings, and Hogg’s relative inexperience. With Mark Wood, Matthew Potts, and Ben Stokes occupied with England duties, and Paul Coughlin and Brydon Carse unavailable, Hogg seized the spotlight on the same day that Josh Hull was announced as the latest pick of the Bazball era. Durham takes immense pride in their homegrown talent, and the supportive cries of “c’mon Hoggy lad” echoed from the Paul Collingwood Pavilion with every ball he delivered, often rising above the fierce wind. Head coach Ryan Campbell watched with admiration as Hogg launched into his run-up, releasing the ball from a height that seemed closer to the heavens than the earth.

Durham’s coaching staff, including former England fast bowler Graham Onions, have dedicated the past year to instilling in Hogg the confidence to unleash his full power on the pitch, rather than merely placing the ball. Their efforts are clearly paying off.

While commenting on the live stream, Campbell also wisely urged caution, noting that Hogg needs time to develop properly. This summer marks the 19-year-old’s first on a rookie deal, and he has previously endured lengthy absences due to ankle and shin injuries. Such issues are not uncommon for a young, growing fast bowler, but it will take time for Hogg to fully trust his body. Campbell quickly returned to the balcony when there was a brief concern of a hamstring issue for Hogg, but it turned out to be a false alarm—he had simply neglected to rehydrate and was suffering from a bit of cramp.

Captain Scott Borthwick deserves credit for his management of Hogg. The seamer’s initial three-over spell was driven by nerves and adrenaline, resulting in 26 runs conceded. However, Borthwick skilfully reintroduced Hogg when Nottinghamshire began to falter in their first innings. From that point on, Hogg’s remaining 30.3 overs across the match yielded just 74 runs and eight wickets.

Among those watching with pride was Mike Fishwick, Hogg’s head of cricket at Durham School. Although Manchester-born, Hogg grew up locally and wasn’t initially part of the county youth system. It was Fishwick who contacted John Windows, Durham’s academy director, urging him to take notice of Hogg. After being taken to the Taunton Cricket Festival at the under-14 level, Hogg never looked back.

Hogg’s talents extend beyond bowling—he was a youth-level opening batsman and is also skilled in football and rugby. His younger brother, Patrick, represents England at the under-18 level in rugby. Hogg’s current focus is on adding some bulk to his frame without losing his natural athleticism, which could give him the extra pace to become even more threatening.

Interestingly, Hogg’s bowling boots are a modest size 11.5, but the legacy he aims to follow is immense. Durham has a rich tradition of nurturing fast bowlers, with the likes of Steve Harmison, Liam Plunkett, Onions, and more recently, Wood and Potts, all emerging from the region. 

In a few years, it wouldn’t be surprising to hear Daniel Hogg’s name mentioned alongside these greats.