With this blog being about Beer and Sport, there’s no way I could let this story pass through to the keeper.

It seems that Matthew Hoggard has been working with the boffins at Marston’s Brewery and they’ve come up with a new ale named after the big fella – Hoggy’s Night Wathcman Ale.

“I can recommend a pint of Nightwatchman. It’s the perfect way to unwind after a day’s play. It doesn’t get better than having a beer named after you.” – claims Hoggard, clearly having forgotten the open topped busses and knighthoods of 2005.

Potentially forseeing the danger of Boony bringing up a 52 beer challenge, Hoggy’s ‘Blonde Full-Bodied Ale’ has been brewed to the weak as piss alcohol content of 3.8%. Interestingly this is still more than the acclaimed Nightwatchman’s List A average of 3.58!

Marston’s became the official beer of the England cricket team last year and toured with the national side during the Ashes in Australia. In September last year, the brewer placed tongue-in-cheek notices in major Australian newspapers lamenting the ‘death’ of Australian cricket – before England went on to lose the series in a whitewash.

Marston’s has also signed a three-year deal to become the official supplier of beer to English test match grounds.