England announced their 12 man squad for the forthcoming Test series against New Zealand today and the big news is the return of Matthew Hoggard. Which hardly constitutes BIG news but it’s a straw we’re willing to clutch at. In all likelihood, the Yorkshireman will only be carrying the drinks at Lords, because the selectors will want to go with the same team that beat New Zealand in the last Test of the previous series, but it shows just how far he’s fallen that Hoggard is very happy just to be included despite being England’s regular new ball bowler for some time until 2 games ago. “I’m very happy about being included” he confirmed.
The dog-walking cult hero added a couple of metaphors for our general amusement:
“The 11 who played in the last Test in New Zealand finished with two winning Tests so I need to keep knocking on the door because they’re in the driving seat at the moment,” he declared, before adding a reassuring reference to his inner courage “If I hadn’t been in the squad I’d have thought that could have been the end of me.” We don’t want to be doom merchants Matty, but the first Test of the last series might - still - prove to be The End Of Matthew Hoggard. But we hope not.
Collingwood has a shoulder injury and Ambrose a stiff neck but both expect to be fit for Thursday. Given England’s record of picking injured players I wouldn’t recommend putting your mortgage on it though. The full squad:
Vaughny, Cooky, Straussy, KP, Belly, Colly, Ambrosia, Broady, Siders, Monty, Jimmy and Hoggy.
2 responses so far ↓
1 admin // May 11, 2008 at 9:12 pm
6 Batsmen, Ambrose & 4 bowlers seems to be what the papers think. There’s a chance they’ll leave Monty out - not because it’s a good idea, but because such thinking (you don’t need a spinner in England in May) has permeated selections before. But let’s hope we’ve moved on since those days. After all we’ve left batting collapses and dropped catches behind…. oh.
2 Ad // May 11, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Monty will play. Even Moores/Miller/Giles aren’t that mad.
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