Veteran Kent bowler Michael Hogan discusses link with team-mate Grant Stewart back to New South Wales, Australia

Michael Hogan is a long way from his family in Australia but the veteran Kent bowler has a team-mate who knows plenty about growing up Down Under too.

Hogan hails from Newcastle, New South Wales, but qualifies as a domestic English cricketer.

Despite fellow Kent player Grant Stewart being an Italian international due to his mother’s background, he comes from a similar area.

Hogan revealed: “My house is about 20 minutes away from Grant’s parents!

“I don’t think we have ever ran into each other in Newcastle, although I’ve played against him at Kent. It’s weird how things work out.

“We’re both, pretty much, from the same area and we’ve ended up in Kent together.”

That connection could help Hogan if he does become homesick, although the 41-year-old is used to being away from loved ones for periods and looks to have settled in quickly with his new side.

“You sort of get used to it a little bit as a cricketer,” he said.

“It can be tricky but the environment couldn’t have been more welcoming.

“Since I’ve got here, if there’s anything that I have needed, there’s always someone on hand to help you out.

“It’s been brilliant.”

Seamer Hogan re-thought plans to retire last summer after he opted to depart Glamorgan, as he joined Kent for their 2023 summer.

Hogan, who was unbeaten at the end of Kent's second innings in their agonising defeat to Warwickshire, explained: “It was a bit of a strange one.

“Towards the back-end of last year, Kent were looking for an experienced bowler and I think they had other options in mind that didn’t quite pan out. Someone asked the question and it went from there.

“It was a bit eye-opening, and took some thought and some planning for us. As a family, we were going to move home.

"But when I thought