Hoggard has been dropped for the first time by England since 2005 (Getty)

Yorkshire chief executive Stewart Regan has backed Matthew Hoggard to recover from the disappointment of being dropped by England.

Along with fellow paceman Steve Harmison, Hoggard was left out of the England team for the second Test against New Zealand in Wellington.

Regan told BBC Radio Leeds: "I don't think it's the end of Hoggy's international career.

"He's a resilient character and I think he'll come back and prove himself."

Hoggard took 1-122 in the first Test defeat in Hamilton, but Regan believes the 31-year-old can count himself unlucky to have been dropped.

"The performance by England demanded change and Hoggy's been the fall guy - I feel very sorry for him," he said.

If anything, it could prove a blessing for Yorkshire Yorkshire chief executive Stewart Regan

"I don't particularly think that James Anderson or Steve Harmison, or indeed any of the strike bowlers, are significantly stronger than Hoggy to command a place, but the selectors are making that decision and he'll have to stand by it, so disappointing is where I'd come from."

Regan, though, admits that Hoggard's exclusion from the squad could work to Yorkshire's benefit.

"If anything, it could prove a blessing for Yorkshire because we may see more of him playing next season and if that's the case he'll have a point to prove and I'm sure we'll see him at his best," added Regan.

"If you think back to the start of last season, he was amongst the leading wicket-takers in the country for the first part of the season and let's hope we find that situation happening again."