Regrets? Warren Hegg has a few, but then it's hard to get worked up about the past when the present is sun, mountains, fresh air and one of the most beautiful grounds in the world. "I would like to have played more than two Tests," says the 34-year-old Hegg. "And I'd have to say I would feel unfulfilled if I retired with just two caps." Hegg last played for England in the Sydney Test of 1998-99, and he's still waiting for another chance at the highest level. Hegg, who was one of six players to join up with the rest of the Test squad in Dunedin and plays in tomorrow's three-day game against Otago, admitted the Indian tour had been difficult for him. "It was very frustrating, because I went out hoping to get a Test slot," he said.

He didn't even get a warm-up game, as England decided to give James Foster as much practice behind the stumps as possible before the Test series. "It was the logical thing to do to get him used to the conditions and the heat out there. I could fully understand why the selectors did it. But you were just one dodgy meal off having a game, really."

Hegg, who will captain Lancashire in the coming English season, has felt let down before. "To be honest I was disappointed to be left out of the New Zealand series in 1999 when we came back from Australia," he said. "The team performed well in the last two Tests – we won in Melbourne and we nearly won in Sydney as well. It was a good formula. And I was in decent form in county cricket leading up to the first Test against New Zealand." He stops for a moment. "Who knows what could have happened if I'd had a good series then."

In the event, England turned to Nottinghamshire's Chris Read, who played three of the four Tests that summer, then went to South Africa as Alec Stewart's deputy in 1999-2000. And when Read was dropped, England ignored Hegg again for the tours to Pakistan and Sri Lanka, opting for Paul Nixon of Kent instead. If Stewart hadn't pulled out of the India tour, it's conceivable that Hegg would have disappeared into the backwaters of county cricket for ever. This tour could be his last chance, although he might have to rely on Foster having a shocker in the first Test at Christchurch to get a game.

Hegg feels he could have offered the one-day side something as well. "With the big games I've played over the years for Lancashire – the eight one-day finals at Lord's – I'd have hoped to have got a sniff in the one-dayers," he admitted. "But when you've had someone like Alec Stewart around for the last ten years, it was difficult for me to get into the side. It would have been nice to have pulled a blue shirt on. But if I stopped thinking I was a contender for the World Cup, then it would be time to give up international hopes and aspirations altogether."

Like the affable pro that he is, however, Hegg has nothing but praise for the man currently keeping him out of the side. "Fozzie's going to be around for a long, long time. He has got good hands. He's a good cricketer, as he showed in India, where he came back with some good knocks in the second and third Tests. And he's a quality keeper." No mention was made of the series of clangers that marred Foster's one-day series in India, or that dropped skyer at Christchurch.

That's because the relationship between the two is not so much one of rivalry as camaraderie. "We've had some good chats. If I can help him in any way, shape or form, it's a pleasure to be able to pass on the experience. I think you've got to work on basic stuff really. Wicketkeeping is a funny animal sometimes. If I can help him with the basics, all the better for him."

Tomorrow, Hegg gets his first game for England for over three years. And the thought excites him. "It just makes you realise how lucky you are to come to a place like this to play cricket. I've played in cricket grounds all over the world, but I think this tops the whole lot. The scenery's beautiful, and the wicket looks like it's going to be great." He might have to enjoy it while he can.

Teams

Otago (from) Craig Cumming (capt), Rob Lawson, Simon Beare, Chris Gaffaney, Brendon McCullum, Craig Pryor, Martyn Croy (wk), Nathan Morland, Rob Smith, James McMillan, Kerry Walmsley, David Sewell.

England 1 Marcus Trescothick (capt), 2 Mark Butcher, 3 Mark Ramprakash, 4 Graham Thorpe, 5 Usman Afzaal, 6 Andrew Flintoff, 7 Craig White, 8 Warren Hegg (wk), 9 Richard Dawson, 10 James Ormond, 11 Andy Caddick.

Lawrence Booth is our assistant editor and is covering the whole tour for Wisden.com.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd