Not Looking Good For England!

Hoggard
By Caroline
July 8 2006

England have had many injury worries this past year, with Skipper Michael Vaughan and bowler Simon Jones losing out due to injury. Could this be the possible downfall of England's form since The Ashes? Now another one to add to the never-ending list as it looks like Matthew Hoggard is out too.

Matthew Hoggard, 29, is now a doubt for the opening npower test against Pakistan next week, as he has required six stitches in his bowling hand. Tim Bresnan trod on Hoggard’s hand accidentally while both tried to intercept a rugby ball, which led to his injury.

Matthew Hoggard later said, "The hand feels a bit numb but the cuts are superficial and I am reasonably confident I will be fit for the Test."

"I didn't feel pain at the time and it has not been throbbing so that's a good sign."

"I have not missed an England Test for a long time and I don't want it to be ruled out at Lord's."

Andrew Flintoff, Simon Jones and James Anderson are already ruled out due to injuries with the possibility of Hoggard joining them. So what does the bowler think of all these injuries?

"These things tend to happen in a cluster, it never rains it pours."

"When you have one injury you seem to get more and we are just in a very bad trot of luck."

Warwickshire’s Ian Bell will replace Andrew Flintoff and it looks like him and Paul Collingwood could share bowling duties too. Collingwood, Pieterson and Liam Plunkett have all been suffering with slight injuries but both should be fully fit in time for the first test against Pakistan.

Could this be the possible squad?

A Strauss (captain), M Trescothick, A Cook, K Pietersen, P Collingwood, I Bell, G Jones, J Dalrymple, L Plunkett, M Hoggard, S Harmison, S Mahmood, J Lewis, M Panesar.