Kolkata: Opening up about his astonishing comeback and fitness level at 45, Australian spinner Brad Hogg on Tuesday said he gets a healthy dose of constant encouragement from his wife that keeps him going, but conceded he regrets quitting Test cricket after just seven outings.
Hogg is presently enjoying his Indian Premier League stint at Kolkata Knight Riders.
It's good to be playing the game with someone who's pushing you to go as far as you want. There's talk about me when I'm going to stop and she just says play as long as you possibly can. We're going to try get there to fifty," Hogg said on the eve of their match against Mumbai Indians.
Hogg was the pick of KKR bowler with figures of 3/19 as Delhi Daredevils succumbed to 98 to suffer a nine-wicket defeat in their IPL opener.
Having spent much time in the shadow of the legendary Shane Warne, Hogg had called it quits in 2008 after just seven Tests and 123 ODIs.
Hogg regretted his Test retirement and blamed it on his personal issues with his former wife.
I do regret retiring back in 2008. I had a Test berth for Australia at that stage but I had some personal issues with family and yes, I retired there. I wish I didn't because the marriage did not survive. Luckily it did not because I met a new partner and she's wonderful and someone who supports me."
I think it's just having the passion of wanting to play. Everyone knows I retired in 2008, had about two-three years out of the game. To have here and do have an opportunity what you love, I don't take it for granted. I just love it, I still have the passion of a five year old kid when I first had that dream of playing for Australia. The game's changed, it's evolved. It's given a new lease of life to cricket and it's given a new lease of life to me. It's just having that passion," he said.
Elaborating on his fitness regime, he said: "Basically I try to do everything everyday. I try to have two days off but still doing something physical. I really have five days where I go really hard an hour and a bit, make sure I keep the fitness up. Once you stop, you lose it and I don't want to lose it now.
I guess when I had that period where I had the couple of years off where I was coaching and I thought myself better I keep fit. Luckily I did but I don't want to go back and coach those kids. I will try and stay healthy as possibly as I can for the rest of my life.
"I don't want to be in a hospital when I'm sixty with something that I could have avoided. That's probably the main reason why I keep healthy," Hogg added.
