New Leicestershire captain and former Ashes hero, Matthew Hoggard spoke to Soar Magazine about the County’s successful start to the season, what attracted him to the club and the strength of the squad.

After two wins out of two in the Second Division of the LV= County Championship, Hoggy has been delighted with Leicestershire’s start and grabbing that first away win in years.

“Yeah, it’s not too bad is it? It’s a fantastic start and great to get two wins in a row, so early in the season.

“It was four years that the team hadn’t won away from home so it was a big result for the players that have been here before.”

The former England man’s experience alongside other seasoned cricketers like Paul Nixon and Will Jefferson will be vital to the county’s hopes this summer and will help bring the best out of promising youngsters like James Taylor and Josh Cobb.

Hoggard is very pleased with how the squad is shaping up and the quality of the younger players coming through the academy.

“There is a nice blend and balance of youth and experience in the side and a great bunch of young players that have come through the academy here and that’s tribute to all the great work that the coaching staff have done here over the years.

“I don’t know what the secret is to having so many good young players, if I did I’d probably go on to be a very successful coach. I don’t want to put too much pressure on any one individual but I’m sure that many of the younger players will perform well for us this season.”

The opportunity to be club captain was a major factor in Matthew’s decision to join Leicestershire and he still possesses the hunger and ambition for success.

“The extra responsibility was why I came here and what attracted me to Leicestershire. I wanted a challenge and the chance to be a captain and this is great for me.

“Promotion is definitely the aim, but it’s a marathon not a sprint and we’ve got to take it game by game and not get too carried away with ourselves.

Hoggy is looking to move to Leicestershire soon and recently got to know a few of the Leicester Tigers after a chance meeting on a night out to celebrate the county’s victory over Derbyshire.

“I’m not living locally at the moment, but I am looking to find a place in Leicestershire. We bumped into a few of the Tigers players last night when we were celebrating our victory over Derbyshire. I’m not sure if we can compete with them in the drinking stakes yet, we’re just cricketers after all.”

An Ashes winner in 2005 and the sixth highest-wicket taker in England test match history, Hoggard refused to rule out a return to the international set up or plying his trade in the Indian Premier League, but sees Leicestershire as the priority at present.

“I’d never close the door with England and the chance to wear those three lions on my chest again, but I don’t think it’s something that’s that likely at the moment. I’m just going to concentrate on playing well for Leicestershire and if anything else comes from that then great.

“Similarly with the IPL, it’s not something that I’d rule out, but it’s not really something that I’m focusing on at the moment.”

Leicestershire’s next home game is a Clydesdale Bank 40 fixture against Nottinghamshire Outlaws this Sunday (April 25th). The game kicks off at Grace Road at 1.45pm.