Matthew Hoggard is hoping to get back into international action in Sri Lanka.
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Matthew Hoggard is hoping to get back into international action in Sri Lanka, where he admits he endured the lowest point in his England career.
Hoggard has struggled with injuries this year, which have restricted the almost ever-present of 40 consecutive Test appearances to just two games out of a possible eight in 2007.
Hoggard and fellow front-line paceman Steve Harmison have both been missing from England's attack of late, but their absence has led to the emergence of the likes of Ryan Sidebottom and Stuart Broad, while James Anderson has also upped his game.
As England prepare for their three-Test tour of Sri Lanka, Yorkshireman Hoggard admits that he is no longer guaranteed his place in the side, with Peter Moores enjoying a real selection headache.
"If you look at the quality of bowlers we have got it is going to be a very difficult selection for (captain) Michael Vaughan and the decision-makers," said Hoggard.
"Thankfully I don't have to make that decision, and all I can do is keep on trying hard in the nets and push my name forward.
"You need to prove yourself every time you bowl, you can't just rest on your laurels.
"You have to keep on improving and keep on performing; with the set of young bowlers we have got everybody is under pressure. If they don't then hopefully there is someone to come in from the wings. That's a useful place for English cricket to be in."
Bad memories
England's last visit to Sri Lanka may have been a successful one, but Hoggard has bad memories as he was dropped during the series, and he would now like to produce the goods and erase those memories of 2003.
"Being replaced by a like-for-like bowler it means you are not doing your job properly or they think the other bowlers are going to perform better than you," he said.
"So it was a very hard time for me last time, yes.
"I left here and the next tour was the West Indies and I had to wait a month before selection.
"James Kirtley came in and played the last two Test matches in Sri Lanka, I didn't play, so I thought there was every opportunity for him to get selected and not me.
"Fortunately for me, I got selected and I was fortunate enough to play ever since, for that long stretch.
"There is a lot of water passed under the bridge since then, I have played a lot more Test match cricket, been back to different parts of the subcontinent and I feel I have grown as a bowler and confident I can come and perform in Sri Lanka."
Batting advice
Hoggard did actually manage to help save a Test with his bat last time in Sri Lanka, keeping out Muttiah Muralitharan, but he will not be offering any advice for his batting team-mates.
"I won't lie, it's quite tough," Hoggard said.
"I can't pick him to be honest, I have got no idea which way he turns the ball when he wangs it down at you, so my game plan was to get as far forward as possible and play the line rather than which way it was turning.
"Because you have got the fielders in close and everyone is jabbering at you, it is just one mistake and you're out."
