Hoggard fixed on England recall

Matthew Hoggard believes his wealth of international experience could give him a crucial edge in his bid to earn an England recall in time for next summer's npower Ashes series.

The 31-year-old Yorkshire seamer played the last of his 67 Tests against New Zealand in Hamilton in March, as England lost by 189 runs and Hoggard returned figures of 1-151.

Michael Vaughan's side fought back to take the three-match series 2-1 before then overcoming the same opponents at home.

A subsequent home series defeat to South Africa in which Hoggard again did not feature - uncapped bowler Darren Pattinson was preferred for the Headingley Test when Ryan Sidebottom was ruled out - spelt the end of Vaughan's tenure and the bowler was then overlooked for the tour of India.

Nevertheless, the Yorkshireman still harbours hopes of forcing his way back into the national set-up with a trip to the West Indies, where he took a hat-trick in Barbados in 2004, looming early next year before Australia visit in the summer.

Matthew Hoggard takes the wicket of Jehan Mubarak at Kandy on last winter's Sri Lankan tour

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And Hoggard, who has 248 Test wickets to his name and played a large part in helping England regain the Ashes following the epic series of 2005, is counting on his big-game experience to get him the nod over other contenders.

"There's a lot of good cricketers out there and everyone's vying for that England shirt," he said.

"The thing that I've got above everyone else that wants to play for England is experience.

"I've played 67 Test matches, got a few wickets and in big series like the Ashes - I've got the experience to come in. I'm not making my debut, I know what it's all about.

"I know how the world turns in Test match cricket so it'll be easier for me to come in to a Test team rather than a new boy making his debut against such strong opponents."

Hoggard also takes heart from the fact former new ball partner Steve Harmison has returned to the international fold.

"It shows that it's not a closed door," he added. "’Harmy’ bowled extremely well in county cricket.

"He was the leading wicket-taker when he got selected so it just shows me that I've got to go back and take a lot of wickets for Yorkshire, hopefully keep banging on the selectors' door, and give them enough of a headache for them to open the door and let me in.

"All I've got to do is start off well. Yorkshire's the place that I've got to start."

County colleague Vaughan is another player attempting to re-establish his England credentials and Hoggard backed his former skipper to succeed.

"He's still got the ability and I'm sure he's still got the desire as well," he insisted.

Hoggard has support for ex-captain and Yorkshire team-mate Michael Vaughan over a potential return

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"It was a tough decision to stand down as captain and when you're not in form, everything seems to go against you so I think the time away from cricket will do him the world of good.

"Hopefully he can start off the season well because an in-form Michael Vaughan is a joy to watch."

Hoggard watched England miss out on the Stanford Super Series jackpot with a 10-wicket defeat to the Stanford Superstars in the Caribbean, but insisted motivation to prolong his playing career at both an international and domestic level does not stem from a financial desire.

"It's got nothing to do with the money, I'm a Test cricketer and I'm proud to play for my country," he said.

"There's nothing I wanted more as a kid than to put the three lions on and I've been fortunate enough to be able to do that.

"I've had six years of playing for England and there's nothing more I want than to place those three lions on my chest again and take more wickets for England.”

He added: "There was a lot of money at stake. England didn't turn up in the final and you saw how much it meant for the All Stars that won it.

"The players were crying, the families were crying and it means a lot to them, so it's great for cricket that a lot of media attention is focused on cricket, a lot of people watched the game."

Hoggard is in the All-Star team for the Hong Kong Sixes, which starts this weekend at the Kowloon Cricket Club.