The 31-year-old seamer played the last of his 67 Tests against New Zealand in Hamilton in March, missed the entire Test summer and was then overlooked for the tour of India.

Nevertheless, the Yorkshireman still harbours hopes of forcing his way back into the national set-up with a trip to the West Indies, where he took a hat-trick in Barbados in 2004, looming early next year before Australia visit in the summer.

Hoggard, who played a large part in helping England regain the Ashes following the epic series of 2005, is counting on his big-game experience to get him the nod over other contenders.

"There's a lot of good cricketers out there and everyone's vying for that England shirt," he said. "The thing that I've got above everyone else that wants to play for England is experience.

"I've played 67 Test matches, got a few wickets and in big series like the Ashes - I've got the experience to come in. I'm not making my debut, I know what it's all about.

"I know how the world turns in Test match cricket so it'll be easier for me to come in to a Test team rather than a new boy making his debut against such strong opponents."

Hoggard also takes heart from the fact fellow paceman Steve Harmison has returned to the international fold when at one point it seemed his England career was over.

"It shows that it's not a closed door," he added. "'Harmy' bowled extremely well in county cricket. He was the leading wicket-taker when he got selected so it just shows me that I've got to go back and take a lot of wickets for Yorkshire, hopefully keep banging on the selectors' door, and give them enough of a headache for them to open the door and let me in.

"All I've got to do is start off well. Yorkshire's the place that I've got to start."

County colleague Vaughan is another player attempting to re-establish his England credentials and Hoggard backed the Yorkshire batsman to succeed.

"He's still got the ability and I'm sure he's still got the desire as well," he insisted. "It was a tough decision to stand down as captain and when you're not in form, everything seems to go against you so I think the time away from cricket will do him the world of good.

"Hopefully he can start off the season well because an in-form Michael Vaughan is a joy to watch."