Brad Hogg running out of chances

Two months ago Brad Hogg was playing Test cricket for Australia against Zimbabwe. Now he is facing being dropped by Western Australia, a casualty of the state's innings defeat by Victoria earlier this week.

Hogg - like most of his team-mates - had a wretched match, taking 0 for 97 from 26 overs as Victoria amassed 3 for 613. He made a duck in Western Australia's first innings, and 25 in their second.

With left-arm wrist spinner Beau Casson pressing for inclusion in the side, Hogg is running out of chances.

"I think Brad would realise that," Wayne Clark, Western Australia's coach, said. "He has to perform. He is a major player in our side, but when you have people pressing you, that is competition and that is good. He has to go away and realise he has to perform."

Wayne Hill, WA's chairman of selectors, explained that Hogg was picked as an allrounder, adding: "He must stand up in one or both forms of the game.".

Since playing Zimbabwe in October, Hogg has claimed just 3 for 264 in his two first-class matches.

Hogg's record for Western Australia is far from impressive, with 75 wickets in 58 games, and those at a cost of 45.96 each. His nine Test wickets have cost 50.22 each. Casson, by comparison, has played 10 matches for Western Australia and as 42 wickets at 42.29.