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Langer said 'retire on a high': Hogg

Brad Hogg says he was advised to retire by Scorchers coach Justin Langer, but believes his move east is a win-win for both BBL clubs

Melbourne Renegades recruit Brad Hogg says a suggestion from Justin Langer that he should retire on a high note and a desire to create opportunities for young spinners were the major reasons behind his decision to leave the Perth Scorchers.

The Renegades unveiled Hogg as their newest recruit for the upcoming KFC Big Bash League season on Monday morning, just days after Langer revealed the 45-year-old veteran had walked away from the Scorchers.

Langer said he was shocked and disappointed by the decision on Friday, confirming the spinner would have been given the opportunity to play for Perth this summer.

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But Hogg said he had been encouraged to hang up the boots and had warned the club he was considering his options at the end of BBL|05.

"We’ve had discussions over the last four years and he’s been very vocal the last four years about my willingness to play on and he’s always been telling me I should be retiring on a high,” Hogg said in Melbourne on Monday.

"He was pretty excessive about that this year and I told him I want to play on. I’ve retired once before and you don’t win any brownie points for retiring.

"As far as I’m concerned I want to play as long as I can. The last three months I’ve been pretty open with him that other teams have been wanting me and there have been a couple teams chasing me for three years, but this year is the first time I’ve been open with JL that I might be making a move, on the back of what he’s been saying about how I should retire on a high note.

"And so I gave them three months’ warning and we set the time, went through the appropriate guidelines to tell them what’s going on and gave them a date and they were pretty blasé about the whole process so I took that as a sign I should go.”

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With the Scorchers’ squad boasting young spinning talent including World T20 squad member Ashton Agar, James Muirhead and Ashton Turner, Hogg said he also felt it was time to give others an opportunity.

"(Langer’s) one who wants the young players to have the opportunity and he wants to produce Australian cricketers, which is a great thing and what we’re here for.

"I was looking at it and seeing young stars like Agar playing in a World T20 and put in a position which he doesn’t do for the Scorchers.

"(But) I still want to play cricket and I’ve got the opportunity at the Renegades now and as far as I’m concerned it’s a win-win situation."

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Hogg said he had always held a desire to play cricket on the east coast, while the chance to be part of the Renegades-Stars rivalry was too good a chance to turn down.

"When the opportunity came, it’s the ones you don’t take that you regret. Coming to Melbourne, I’m very excited, it’s a two-team town and the rivalry between the Stars and the Renegades is really hot.

"I’ve only got couple more years left in me and when you get opportunities like this, you’ve got to take it. I want to experience everything I can out of cricket.”

The Renegades will host the Scorchers this summer, meaning Hogg will not have to face his former home fans at #TheFurnace.

"When I was at first deciding I was a bit shaky about it, but now I’d love to go back there and play in front of the crowd and see what it’s actually like to play as an opposition team in Perth."

On Friday, Langer said he felt Hogg had "made the wrong decision", believing the spinner could have had a future at the WACA well beyond his playing days.

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"In my opinion he’s made the wrong decision, that’s okay, that’s not my business," Langer said.

"He could have been involved with the Scorchers for the next five or 10 years because he’s had such an impact, whether it was in coaching or marketing.

"We offered him a position to keep playing for us. He’s such an iconic figure with the Scorchers, it seems a bit strange to me that he’s decided to go that way.”

But Hogg still believes he could return to the Scorchers in the future.

"The young guys in Perth need opportunities, I’ve been taking their overs. My chapter is finished in WA. But there’s no reason why I can’t go back as a coach down the track."

He’s also confident his decision won’t impact his 30-year friendship with Langer.

"I’ve known JL for 30 years, it’ll be water off a duck’s back in a day or two."