Hat-trick hero Hoggard in health scare

Matthew Hoggard, England's hat-trick hero, was examined by two doctors after a "scary" incident during the dramatic Third Test.

Hoggard could not have been happier after his brilliant three-wicket burst had hurried Michael Vaughan's team to their historic victory over West Indies in front of 10,000 cheering Brits.

But 48 hours earlier, during the home side's first innings, Hoggard had caused concern in the England dressing room after leaving the field because he felt unwell.

"It was very scary at the time," admitted the 27-year-old Yorkshire fast bowler.

"I was poorly for about an hour. I had the shakes, I felt sick, I was trying to pass out and I just couldn't catch my breath - I was hyper-ventilating."

Hoggard, who employed a personal instructor during the winter to help him work extra hard on his fitness, is the "engine" of England's bowling attack, according to Vaughan.

He bowled nine overs in two hours on Thursday afternoon when the heat and humidity were at their highest.

"I was a bit dehydrated but I've been dehydrated before and never had that reaction," said Hoggard. "Maybe it was a bit of heat exhaustion and sunstroke because I had bowled a lot of overs in the afternoon session.

"They got two doctors in to see me. "But my temperature was normal and so was my heart-rate and blood pressure.

"I think it was just a one-off and hopefully it's behind me now.

"There was no question of me leaving the ground or anything like that. In fact, I wanted to get back on the park that evening but I wasn't allowed."

And just two days later, Hoggard led England off the field in Barbados after demolishing the West Indies' second innings with figures of four for 35 - including the wickets of Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and and Ryan Hinds with consecutive deliveries.