DOB:31.12.76 County:Yorkshire Test debut: 2nd Test v West Indies, Lord's 2000 One-day international debut: v Zimbabwe, Harare 2001 Right arm fast medium bowler, right hand batsman

The absence of Darren Gough and Andy Caddick in India last winter left Hoggard as the spearhead of one of the most inexperienced bowling attacks ever to take the field for England in a Test series.

The Yorkshireman emerged with credit for containing India's top order, but it was in New Zealand where he achieved his greatest reward, taking seven for 63 in the first innings Christchurch.

He did it by bowling to a consistently full length and swinging the ball from leg to off, but was taught a valuable lesson on the final day when he bore the brunt of Nathan Astle's astonishing display of hitting before finally dismissing hm for 222.

Hoggard was England's leading wicket-taker with 14 against Sri Lanka at the start of the summer but seemed to lose confidence during the one-day series which followed.

A strong physique means he is not prone to the same number of injuries which afflict many young fast bowlers and the selectors can rely on him to keep running in whenever his captain calls on him.