Hoggard fears for England future
Monday, 21 July 2008
Matthew Hoggard has been forced to accept that his England career could be over after Darren Pattinson got the Test nod ahead of him on Hoggard's home ground of Headingley. Sidebottom had originally come in to cover for Hoggard and has held on to his place ever since, with Hoggard playing alongside him at times, but when Sidebottom was forced out with a back injury, it was Pattinson - a little-known Australia-raised bowler with 11 first-class games under his belt - who got the call, reports Cricinfo.
Hoggard had been left out in New Zealand six Tests ago while England continued to choose an unchanged side since then. He was called into the 12 for the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's but now Pattinson - called up after only 11 first-class matches in England - has leapfrogged him, the second Test against South Africa could prove the nail in the coffin for Hoggard.
"It would have been lovely to have played at Headingley," Hoggard told BBC's Test Match Special. "I am bowling better and better - I am not bowling a bag of spanners.
Hoggard had been left out in New Zealand six Tests ago while England continued to choose an unchanged side since then. He was called into the 12 for the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's but now Pattinson - called up after only 11 first-class matches in England - has leapfrogged him, the second Test against South Africa could prove the nail in the coffin for Hoggard.
"It would have been lovely to have played at Headingley," Hoggard told BBC's Test Match Special. "I am bowling better and better - I am not bowling a bag of spanners.