More than a magnificent seven

By Matthew Hoggard England's fourth Test hero

It's been a strange old time since winning the fourth Test.

But the strangest had to be dressing up in a poncho and cowboy hat with a cigar as a character from the Magnificent Seven.

Hoggard targets history

One of the photographers decided it would be a good idea to highlight my seven wickets in the second innings. It was a bit of fun but I can only hope the rest of the guys don't see it.

No one's mentioned it so far, and I'm planning to keep it that way before I fly home. Otherwise I'll never hear the end of it.

The game itself was fantastic but it's not just a one-man show. Among the great performances was the way Andrew Strauss played in the first innings, Michael Vaughan's return to form and Marcus Trescothick's 180.

Come to think of it, Tresco really got us out of a lot of trouble. And then everyone bowled in partnerships.

Freddie Flintoff could just as easily have been the man taking seven wickets. He bowled so well, but the luck just didn't quite go his way.

Fourth Test: Hero Hoggard crushes South Africa

Personally, I was so caught up in the emotions of what was happening and trying to get my tired body through for 10 wickets.

As a rule I sometimes let my emotions run riot and suddenly decide I can bowl the magic ball.

But I was getting more and more tired and the adrenalin from each wicket was only just about bringing me back to normal.

Admittedly I go nuts on occasion and did for the wicket of Jacques Kallis and that of Dale Steyn, which ended the match.

Kallis is their danger player and we knew his wicket would be the key to victory. To get him out for below his average, let alone a duck, is an achievement.

I'm raring to go for when the captain loses the toss - he's not the best of tossers Hoggard on England skipper Michael Vaughan

It was a good ball and, if he looks back, he will see he couldn't have done anything different.

I also went nuts at the end. For all that, though, I never sledge a batsman as he heads back to the pavilion. You never know when they might come back and slap you about the park. My advice would be "keep your gob shut".

I've received a lot of attention this week and it's been nice. But I'm generally one for hiding in the shadows.

I'm not complaining about taking 12 wickets in a match, it would just be nice to do it without all the press attention!

As it is, though, I would have been just as happy with Harmy or Freddie getting all those wickets.

That's what's good about this side. All we care about is getting the opposition off the park as quickly as possible, whoever does the damage.

Since the game I've had two days off. On Tuesday there was a lot of press stuff and Wednesday's all about getting my washing done. It doesn't get more glamorous than that!

Going into the final Test, I'm raring to go once the captain loses the toss. In fairness, he's not the best of tossers.

In Johannesburg I already had my whites and bowling spikes on when he went out for the toss. But somehow he won it. I'll make sure I do that again - maybe it's a lucky charm.

It's going to be a massive Test at Centurion Park and we know we have the chance of making history as the only team, apart from Australia, to win a series in South Africa since their readmission to Test cricket.

But we're all about making history. We made it in the West Indies, we made it at home in the summer and we're confident of making it again.