Hoggy on way back

Profiles / Editor / 09 June 2007 / Leave a Comment

Matthew Hoggard is expected to return to the England side for the fourth Test against West Indies after recovering from injury.

The news will come as a welcome boost with England's bowling looking patchy at times during the Third Test. Steve Harmison and Liam Plunkett were both wayward with their line and Michael Vaughan's men were only able to get themselves into a dominating position due to some poor West Indian batting.

England are still trading at the minimum available price of 1.01 to complete a series win by securing an unassailable 2-0 lead come the conclusion to the Old Trafford match, but the return of Hoggard will give weight to the idea that England can go on and complete a 3-0 series win, which is currently available at 1.53.

The Yorkshire seamer has been sidelined since picking up a groin problem in the first innings of the first Test against West Indies at Lord's.

He was close to returning to the side for the ongoing third Test but suffered a minor setback in his comeback, which led to Ryan Sidebottom keeping his place in the side.

But the 30-year-old has been practising with the England coaching team at Old Trafford and is on course to return at the Riverside - which hosts the fourth Test, starting on Friday (June 15).