Hoggard ruled of fifth test

SYDNEY, Jan 2 (Reuters) Injury forced England seamer Matthew Hoggard out of the fifth Ashes test against Australia starting at the Sydney Cricket Ground today.

Hoggard was ruled out with a side strain and replaced by fellow paceman James Anderson in the only change to the England team that lost last week's fourth test in Melbourne by an innings and 99 runs.

Australia retained the same starting 11 from Melbourne as they chase their first 5-0 series cleansweep against England since 1920-21.

Hoggard's withdrawal is a major setback to England's hopes of avoiding a whitewash. He has been England's most consistent bowler in the series and took seven for 109 in the second test in Adelaide.

Anderson played in the first two tests of the series but lost his place to Sajid Mahmood for the third and fourth matches.

Teams: Australia - Ricky Ponting (captain), Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Glenn McGrath.

England - Andrew Flintoff (captain), Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Chris Read, Sajid Mahmood, Steve Harmison, Monty Panesar, James Anderson.

Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pakistan), Billy Bowden (New Zealand).

Reuters DH VP0537