da fezbet： England’s captain, Michael Vaughan, has conceded that Matthew Hoggard’s prospects of playing in Sunday’s second Test at Colombo are slim
Andrew Miller in Kandy04-Dec-2007
Matthew Hoggard batted on the fifth day, and was last man out when he was bowled by Lasith Malinga, but was clearly in pain © Getty Images
England’s captain, Michael Vaughan, has conceded that MatthewHoggard’s prospects of playing in Sunday’s second Test at Colombo areslim, after he was forced to leave the field on the fourth day atKandy with a recurrence of the back problems that ruled him out ofEngland’s Test series against India in July.Though Hoggard batted during the closing stages of England’s 88-rundefeat in the first Test, he was clearly in pain, and had to receivetreatment from the physio shortly before he was bowled by LasithMalinga to wrap up the match. Up until then, he had been England’soutstanding bowler with six wickets in the match, including 4 for 29in the first innings.”He’s looking doubtful at this stage,” said Vaughan after the match.”As we saw when he was batting he’s not moving that well, so we’regoing to have to monitor him over the next few days. He’s got to be adoubt for the next Test.”It’ll be a huge blow for the team if he’s ruled out,” Vaughan added,”because of what he offers with the new ball as well as the old ball,and his experience. But if he is ruled out it gives an opportunity forsomeone else to come [in].” England were scheduled to travel down toColombo immediately after the game, and Vaughan said that he wouldcontinue to be assessed in the days leading up to the second Test.According to England’s coach, Peter Moores, Hoggard’s back problemshad been getting progressively worse throughout the match. “It’s afacet joint that’s stiff , and it’s an injury he’s had before,” saidMoores. “It’s currently being manipulated by the physio, and we’ll seeif it needs anything more aggressive after that.”It’s got progressively worse as the game has gone on,” said Moores.”He [was suffering] a little bit late on in the first innings, it cameback in the second innings, and then he bowled with the second newball and that stiffened it up. We’ll just have to see how he comesup.”Until the Sydney Test last winter, Hoggard had been a stalwart ofEngland’s attack for 40 consecutive matches. Since then, however, hehas been increasingly injury-prone. He withdrew midway through theLord’s Test in May with a strained abductor muscle, and then suffereda series of back spasms in the latter half of the season.