BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (Reuters) - Less than 24 hours after his hat-trick helped England clinch their first series victory in the Caribbean since 1968, Matthew Hoggard said he had not even expected to be in the squad to tour West Indies.
Hoggard became the 10th Englishman to take a Test hat-trick on Saturday, ripping through the West Indies batting to help England take a 3-0 lead in the four-match series.
``I didn't think I was going to come out here,'' said the paceman.
``After being dropped in Sri Lanka I barely played a game and I certainly didn't think I would be in the team for Jamaica, so to take a hat-trick is amazing.''
Hoggard, described by captain Michael Vaughan as the engine of the bowling attack, is revelling in his new role.
``I've been asked to do a job, hold up one end and it's been good,'' he said. ``As 'Vaughany' said to me: I'm on the shop floor while the others are upstairs.
Hoggard's hat-trick, which reduced West Indies from 45 for two to 45 for five, was the first by an Englishman since Darren Gough, another Yorkshireman, achieved the feat against Australia in January 1999.
``I've heard from Goughie in a text message,'' Hoggard said, ``and he just said 'welcome to the club’.''
Despite his success, Hoggard said he would be taking nothing for granted in the future.
``I've been around long enough not to feel settled in the side,'' he said. ``I've just got to keep working hard and hopefully the rewards will come.