The good news for Baildon Cricket Club is that Matthew Hoggard will be renewing his membership at the start of the season and has announced he is fully fit and looking forward to another success-packed 12 months.

The bad news is that there is

practically no chance of seeing him bowl a ball for the club in 2006.

England commitments meant Hoggard's appearances at Headingley last season were as rare as Yorkshire victories in the Totesport League, but Tykes fans are not the only ones feeling a little hard done by.

Spare a thought for Baildon, who have been able to call on the fast bowler's services just twice in the last three years.

And the prospect of improving that lean ratio seems slim at best.

"I will be spending more than 300 days on international duty this year," explained Hoggard, "so I'm afraid there's not much chance of me playing for Baildon.

"But it is always nice to be available to a friendly local club and, if I was coming back from injury, then I could always turn out for Baildon to help me get back into my rhythm. At the end of the day, bowling is

bowling whoever you are playing for."

Hoggard has spent time unwinding at his home in Baildon since England's tour to Pakistan, when the team came crashing back down to earth with a bump following their sensational summer Ashes

triumph.

But he is already counting the days to when England jet back off to the sub-continent for their tour of India in February.

"I'm fully fit and rested and have started to put in some hard work in the gym and now I'm ready to go for it in India," said Hoggard.

"I love relaxing at home and

spending time with my wife Sarah and walking the dogs. It's good to get your life back to some sort of normality.

"But I'm not someone who can sit at home and do nothing and have been playing some golf and keeping fit. It is a hectic lifestyle playing for England and you're living out of a suitcase a lot of the time, but I'm looking forward to playing cricket again."

Hoggard is under no illusions as to how difficult it will be to win a series on Indian soil but claims the defeat in Pakistan did not shatter morale.

"To lose in Pakistan was obviously disappointing and it was a steep learning curve for our young

middle order. But playing three Test matches there, on sub-continent wickets, will stand them in good stead and they will be better players for it.

"And let's not forget we played some good cricket and should have

cantered home in the first Test.

"But India's home record is second to none. They are almost unbeatable at home and we will have to be at the top of our game."

Hoggard says he is still coming to terms with his new celebrity

status, which has skyrocketed since the Ashes and reached a new peak when he and his England

colleagues were awarded MBEs in the New Year's Honours List.

A trip to Buckingham Palace awaits on February 9 to pick up his award.

"It's a great

honour and I'm

certainly looking

forward to it.

To receive my award from the Queen will be

something

special."

Hoggard was back at Headingley this week, attending the ceremony for the newly-named Headingley Carnegie Stadium.

He said his emotions were a

combination of delight and relief that the club had finally completed the purchase of the ground,

securing the future of international cricket at the famous venue for another 15 years.

"I'm a local lad who was born and brought up in Yorkshire and the history of this club demanded it," said Hoggard. "All Test matches here are special and it's always nice to play on your own ground."

While it is wonderful news that Yorkshire fans can look forward to watching one of their own strut their stuff in an England shirt on his home turf, it would mean just as much to see him wearing a white rose sweater at Headingley during the

summer months.

And Yorkshire are not the only ones who want a slice of Matthew Hoggard. Baildon members would love to see a bit more of him in 2006 too. Now there's wishful thinking!