Hoggard limped out of Yorkshire's C&G Trophy defeat at Worcester after only three balls on Wednesday and went for a scan on his damaged right knee on Thursday.

The scan revealed he has suffered a torn cartilage, an injury which normally takes around six weeks recovery time and would rule him out until at least the start of the Test series against South Africa at Edgbaston, starting on July 24.

Dr Peter Gregory, the chief medical officer at the England and Wales Cricket Board, confirmed: "Matthew will need to see a surgeon to see if an operation is required. Our initial assessment is that he will be out of cricket for up to six weeks."

The news could not have come at a worse time for 26-year-old Hoggard, who completed his return from a disappointing winter with an impressive display against Zimbabwe in the opening Test triumph at Lord's.

Hoggard must now hope he makes a better than expected recovery if he is to make the start of the series against South Africa, but the second Test at Lord's on July 31 is probably a more realistic target for his return.

While England were naturally disappointed by Hoggard's diagnosis, there was better news about Yorkshire captain Anthony McGrath, who injured his left side on the final day of the opening Test.

McGrath sat out Yorkshire's defeat on Wednesday, but his scan failed to reveal a tear and he will be re-assessed by England's medical staff in Durham on Monday.

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