Hoggy Hoggy Hoggy! Out Out Out?

Matthew Hoggard
By Tom Bason
September 13 2006

England's Ashes plans took another blow today with the news that bowler Matthew Hoggard injured himself in the warm-up for Yorkshire against Nottinghamshire today. Hoggard was withdrawn from the match as a precaution, and is due to have an MRI scan tomorrow to assess the damage.

This is not welcome news for England's selectors, who yesterday named a 16-man Ashes squad which included 4 unfit bowlers, plus the relatively inexperienced Saj Mahmood and Monty Panesar.  It is thought that Hoggard's injury may be similar to the one sustained by Durham's Liam Plunkett in July, in which case, Hoggard may be struggling to be fit for the opening Ashes Test in Brisbane in late November.