was going to be cut down to 14) but he pulled out because of the injury. 1980–81 Hogg began the 1980–81 season with injury worries. He recovered to take 6–75 against Victoria and was recalled to the test side to play the second test against New Zealand, replacing a dropped Geoff Lawson. Hogg had a good game, taking 2–29 and 2–25. He was also recalled to the one day side. He followed it with 4–60 and 2–14 in the third test. He was kept in the side to play India, taking 1–54 and 1–24 in the first test and 2–100 and 0–11 in the second. He was made 12th man for the third game. Hogg had enjoyed a strong summer – 42 first class wickets at 22.85 – and was picked on the 1981 tour of Sri Lanka and England. 1981 Ashes He got into trouble in Sri Lanka after bowling beamers, but bowled well in early tour games. He took 3–47 in the first test. However his back injury flared up again and his form fell away. "He has a muscular spasm in his back", captain Kim Hughes said. "It's no use playing him unless he is... fit. It's no good if he goes into the match feeling that he might break down" There was discussion that he might have to be replaced on tour by Carl Rackemann. He was replaced by Ray Bright for the second test but passed a fitness test and was kept on in the squad. He rediscovered his form, taking 6–87 against Northampshire and 3–10 in a one-day game, but the selectors persisted with Bright for the third test. After taking 3–42 in a tour game he replaced Geoff Lawson in the fourth test. Hogg took 1–41 and 0–18. However his back injury flared up again and Hogg was overlooked for the fifth test; Mike Whitney was called up to replace him. He passed a fitness test which meant he stayed with the squad. He took 3–39 in a one-day tour game to put him back in contention for a test place. He took four wickets in a game against Sussex but was plagued with no ball problems and was ruled out for the sixth test. He took 27 first class wickets on the tour over all at 24.33 with his best being 6–87. On his return to Australia Hogg was diagnosed with Scheurmann's