Yep, I don't buy any of this 'lost his nip' nonsense - he's been injured and lacked match practice before NZ. He probably needed a rest, but rather should have been left out of the NZ squad if the management feared for his game and were ready to ditch him so undeservedly after one game - the loss of which really wasn't his fault. Hoggy is our best bowler, 200-odd test wickets including that 7-for in the Ashes and countless star performances since the 2005 Ashes (recalling India here, another 7-for IIRC?), and IMO he and Sidebottom can definitely play in the same team alongside a pace bowler such as Anderson, Flintoff, a Harmison who has sorted himself out and been left to regain confidence, or a Mahmood, Plunkett or Onions who has developed sufficiently. Hoggard and Sidebottom swinging away and bowling intelligently with the older ball, in a 5-man attack, in the Ashes 2009 would be a very good idea IMO. Ask Matthew Hayden, Graeme Smith, Virender Sehwag, Upul Tharanga et al what they think about his bowling.

Fletcher is an utter fool if he thinks cheap shots at his best bowler were ever remotely justified. Hoggy has years left in him, just as Vaas, McGrath, Pollock etc. had at his age.

In other news - Bopara's doing well all-round for Essex, Onions has bowled out Surrey including reducing Ramps to 36, Prior's hit a century and is thinking of ditching the gloves (good move IMO), Davies hit 78*, Jones 51* (Kent had Tredwell opening?!), Bell 41 and bowling conditions are looking good for all.