Hoggy fitness boost

Profiles / Editor / 30 May 2007 / Leave a Comment

Matthew Hoggard is confident of returning to fitness for the third Test next week and will test out his injured groin in a club game this weekend.

The 30-year-old was forced to sit out England's crushing victory over the West Indies at Headingley with the injury he picked up in the first Test at Lord's but is hopeful of being fit to face Ramnaresh Sarwan's men at Old Trafford, where England trade as 1.56 favourites to win.

The right-armer will play for club side Baildon on Saturday to test his groin before a match for Yorkshire on Sunday.

Hoggard began his career playing in the Bradford League and admitted that a return to his roots will be very different to the cut and thrust of Test cricket.

"It will feel a bit strange playing my first game of club cricket for a few years, but it's a good option for me because Yorkshire haven't got a game until Sunday," he said.

"I haven't bowled since last Friday, since when (the groin) has been feeling a bit tight, so my exercise has mainly been restricted to swimming and cycling."

Yorkshire take on Durham in the Friends Provident Trophy on Sunday two days after Durham face Worcestershire in the same competition and both Hoggard and Michael Vaughan could be in the White Rose side's line-up for the one-dayer.

He added: "If I then feel that I'm up to bowling 10 overs for Yorkshire, I'll play on Sunday as well and, all being well, I'll then be back on track for the next Test."

The market for the Durham - Yorkshire clash is yet to open and punters should note that the north east county will have played 48 hours previously with Yorkshire fresh after a week's rest.