Matthew Hoggard's startling performance at Christchurch was the product of good old-fashioned swing-bowling values. When the conditions are as helpful as they are here, it is as easy to get carried away - as the labours of Andy Caddick showed - as it is to put the ball on the spot and let the pitch do the work. But Hoggard's control of line, length and swing was masterful, and he was amply rewarded for his diligence. Hoggard is not the most spectacular bowler around, but unobtrusiveness has never done Glenn McGrath any harm. As our graph shows, the key to Hoggard's success was his exemplary line - he pitched 81% of his deliveries (106 out of 131) on off and middle or further across to the off side, whereas for Caddick the figure was only 68%. And from the 25 deliveries that pitched on off and middle, Hoggard conceded only one run.

Length is also vital on a pitch offering so much sideways movement, and Hoggard drew the batsman forward time and time again. The Kiwi batsmen played 75 deliveries off the front foot and 44 off the back. As a result, Hoggard had three men caught in the cordon - although Daniel Vettori was caught flashing off the back foot - and went past the outside edge no fewer than 19 times. Caddick, by contrast, was played more off the back foot (49) than front (47) - his natural length was a fraction too short for this pitch.

The only batsman who really gave Hoggard any tap was Vettori, who slashed witheringly at anything outside off. He scored 23 off 28 balls from Hoggard, 17 of them on the off side and 21 off 19 deliveries that pitched outside off. Apart from that, though, Hoggard had things pretty much his own way. He bowled to eight batsmen in the innings, and dismissed seven of them. You can't say fairer than that.

Rob Smyth is on the staff of Wisden.com.

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