Matthew Hoggard has insisted he has done as much as he can, given the circumstances, to persuade the selectors he can play a part in the first Test, which starts at Sabina Park on Thursday (March 11).

"I realise there are only three or four fast-bowling places in the team, and they need to be able to take four or five wickets each," he said. "Competition is very high and there's no luxury zone. You have to perform."

Hoggard did his chances no harm with four wickets during England's second warm-up game, against the University of West Indies Vice-Chancellor's XI. "It was nice to get some mileage in my legs," he said. "The first day of the last game was tough, with the wind, but I got a better rhythm going yesterday. I've given myself a good shout. I've bowled reasonably well, but it's now up to the captain and coach to pick me."

If he does make the starting line-up, it will bring on a mixture of justice and relief in Hoggard, after he was left out of England's final two Tests against Sri Lanka last December, something which clearly still rankles. "To be replaced by a like-for-like bowler [James Kirtley] was especially disappointing," he said. "I didn't feel I had done anything wrong, but it was the coach's decision."
Freddie Auld, Wisden Cricinfo's assistant editor.

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