Hoggard 'shocked' after England axe

Dropped England seamer Matthew Hoggard admits his omission from the side for the second Test against New Zealand "hurt like hell" and feels the decision was "harsh".

After a comprehensive defeat in the first Test, bowlers Hoggard and Steve Harmison were dropped by selectors with Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad drafted in.

"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," he said in his column in The Times.

He added: "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.

"The news came as a shock because it was the first time I had been dropped since the tour to Sri Lanka in December 2003. It is not that I took my place in the team for granted. Far from it. It was just that I did not expect to be left out for that game."