Hoggard surprised at getting the axe

	Matthew Hoggard claimed a solitary wicket while conceding 151 runs during the Hamilton Test, after which he was dropped © Getty Images

Matthew Hoggard, in his column in the Times, says being left out the England team for the Wellington Test came out of the blue, adding that it was a "harsh decision."

The last time I wrote one of these columns I spoke of how much I was looking forward to playing in the second Test in Wellington. A few hours later I was dropped, which goes to show that you can never take anything for granted. So I have got to make sure that I am physically and mentally prepared to step straight back in for the deciding Test, if required. If not, I will have to make sure that I perform my duties as twelfth man and drinks waiter to the best of my abilities.

I was chuffed that the lads squared the series in Wellington, but I will not pretend that it was easy looking on from the sidelines. It is bad enough watching when you are injured, but worse still when you have been left out. You do not know where to put yourself in the dressing-room. It hurt like hell to be dropped. Playing for England is the biggest honour in the game, something I am aware of every time I pull on the shirt, and I will be doing everything I can to get back in the team as soon as possible.

He continues…

The ones I feel really sorry for are my family, who had flown for 26 hours to watch me play in Wellington. I could not help but feel that I had let them down.

Meanwhile the Sun's John Etheridge reveals Owais Shah's frustration at being continually left out of England's playing XI.

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