Hoggy should get nod over Anderson

3:41pm Sunday 11th May 2008

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We will probably never know whether Matthew Hoggard's England selection only came about due to Andrew Flintoffs side strain.

But whether it was or it wasn't, Hoggard deserves a recall for Thursday's first Test against New Zealand at Lord's.

The Baildon bowler has done everything asked of him since being dropped for the second Test against the Kiwis at Wellington in the winter.

He has not moaned or said he will do this or that to prove people wrong, like Steve Harmison did at Durham's pre-season press day.

In fact, Hoggy even had a laugh at Harmy's bullish approach to things by saying: "He's talking rubbish isn't he."

The 31-year-old has just gone about his business, "wanging it down" as he usually does to take ten County Championship wickets and a few more in the most recent England Lions game at the Rose Bowl.

It seems as if it is now a straight shoot out between Hoggy and Lancashire bowler James Anderson, who is the man in possession after playing in place of Hoggard at Wellington and Napier.

I have always thought that the Tykes' ace was unfortunate to be left out in the first place as he has been England's most reliable seamer since the start of the 2005 Ashes series.

Yes, he had a bad Test at Hamilton - and yes, he was under-prepared having not played any cricket since Sri Lanka before Christmas.

How many bad games have others had though? You cannot rely on Anderson, despite his undoubted talent. The only player who does not seem to have a bad game is Flintoff.

But he has rapidly turned into the cricketing equivalent of Darren Anderton!

My gut feeling is that Hoggard will still be carrying the drinks at Lord's because of Anderson's last-ditch nine for 77 for Lancashire against Durham in the County Championship.

For me, that is the wrong call because the Yorkshireman is far more reliable - despite Lord's being Anderson's most successful Test venue.

But from a Yorkshire point of view, he could well be back in Championship action if the decision is made early enough for him to hot-foot it to the Riverside where the White Rose face Durham on Wednesday.

As for the rest of the England squad, the only real surprise was no place for the in-form Essex all-rounder Ravi Bopara as cover for Paul Collingwood if nothing else.

Collingwood is struggling with a niggle in his right shoulder - and if he doesn't make it then the batting will really look thin on the ground.

"Paul Collingwood received treatment to his right shoulder on Friday, and we now need to see how he responds to that treatment before we have a definitive idea of his availability for the first Test," said national selector Geoff Miller.

"At this stage it's too early to say whether he will definitely play, as he will be reassessed in the lead up to Thursday.

"I know Paul and the England medical team will be doing everything to ensure he's given the best chance of taking his place in the side, but should he not be fit to play we have options available."

Hopefully one of those options includes a late call for Bopara if necessary.

England squad: MP Vaughan (Yorkshire, capt), AN Cook (Essex), AJ Strauss (Middlesex), KP Pietersen (Hampshire), IR Bell (Warwickshire), PD Collingwood (Durham), TR Ambrose (Warwickshire, wkt), SCJ Broad (Nottinghamshire), RJ Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire), MS Panesar (Northamptonshire), JM Anderson (Lancashire), MJ Hoggard (Yorkshire).