Few things in cricket are as rewarding as listening to a Matthew Hoggard press conference. It is not as if he is especially incisive about the game (though he can be), it is not as though he always knocks 'em dead (though he can do), it is not that he is invariably a model of candour (though he often is).
Nor is he free from cliche, racking up at close of play on the opening day at least five "Put it in the right areas," the most hackneyed bowling phrase de nos jours.
Hoggard is a Yorkshireman and he could be nothing else. And doubtless he would rather be nothing else under the sun. He has a neat line in self-deprecation, mixed with a sense of his own worth and a wonderful ability to take the rise out of others. When he first made the England team he realised swiftly that the captain of the time, Nasser Hussain, could take himself and the world at large a tad seriously and set about showing him the error of his ways.
He was at it again yesterday when he was asked about England's successful efforts on the opening day of the Test series. "It would have been useful," he said, "if the captain had won the toss." But the captain, Michael Vaughan lost the toss and England had to buckle down to what seemed likely to be a hot day in the Kandy sun.
That it was no such thing was largely because of Hoggard's endeavours. It was he who brought Sri Lanka's castle tumbling down with four early wickets. He was asked if his 4-21 opening spell was his best and replied that it was not because the ball had swung and he rated non-swinging days higher.
Minutes later he was asked virtually the same question and said to his original interlocutor: "Did you bring your parrot? Rewind a few minutes."
Hoggard is one of England's 2005 Ashes heroes (one of five of the 12 left in yesterday's team, and the only bowler). "There was intense competition for places in the team. I wouldn't like to have been one of the selectors. Thankfully, I've managed to get on, wang it down and hopefully keep my place."
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