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Matthew Hoggard rose to the challenge of regaining his England place last week, picking up match figures of 8 for 97 against Hampshire. He insisted, however, that although he was replaced by Stuart Broad for the second Test against New Zealand in the winter, he never considered himself out of the England reckoning.

“People say I’m back, but I don’t think I’ve been anywhere,” Hoggard told reporters after Yorkshire’s innings-and-27-run win at Headingley. “I just had one bad spell in the first Test in Hamilton, and that can happen to anyone; soon after I was bowling well in the nets and hitting the gloves hard.

“All I’ve done over the past few days is close my eyes, wang the ball down and I’ve managed to pick up a few wickets. Hopefully, I can maintain that form for the next couple of games, put some pressure on the England selectors and give them some headaches.”

With the first Test against the returning New Zealanders just two-and-a-half weeks away, the selectors have a selection conundrum to resolve. Broad and James Anderson both did enough in New Zealand in place of Hoggard and Steve Harmison and, in addition, Andrew Flintoff appears set to regain his spot in the side for the first time since January 2006.

Meanwhile Hoggard, who has never hidden his contempt for one-day cricket, is surplus to requirement for Yorkshire’s Friends Provident match today against Derbyshire, but maintains his focus is on returning to the Test side.

“It’s just a club policy thing,” Hoggard said. “I’m scared of the white ball, you know — I’m allergic to it. We’ve just got quite a few seamers at the club and Goughie is coming back. I want to concentrate on getting back in the Test team and the white ball can take a jump as far as I’m concerned. Anyway, it means I can spend a day with my family instead of watching the rain fall at Headingley.”

Source:Cricket News