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| August 6, 2003 | Wednesday | Jumadi-us-Sani 7, 1424 |
Smiling assassin retires from Test cricket
LONDON, Aug 5: Fast bowler Darren Gough, regarded as the heart of the England team for almost a decade, finally gave up the fight against long-term knee problems on Tuesday as he retired from Test cricket.
Gough, however, said he would still be available for One-day Internationals and hoped to continue playing until the next World Cup.
The 32-year-old Yorkshireman had just returned to the Test side after a year out with a knee injury requiring three operations and struggled to regain his former pace in the first and second Tests against South Africa.
Gough said: “I’ve come to a decision to retire from Test match cricket due to the injury sustained playing for England in New Zealand.
“Every day is a hard one and my career is based on being a strike bowler and being the one the captain always turned to in time of need, but I’ve found the last two matches hard going both mentally and physically — not just on playing days but also against the backdrop of the effort I’ve put in over the last eight months to get back to this stage.”
He added in a statement published by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB): “It has become apparent to me, no matter what my heart, head or public want me to do, that my knee will not allow me to play Test match cricket.
“Obviously I’m sad, but I think every player knows when it’s time to step down and I feel in order for me to concentrate on my dream of one-day cricket and possibly another World Cup for England and trying to help Yorkshire move forward, I feel I have to retire.”
Gough’s exit came one match after Nasser Hussain quit as captain. Speculation continues to surround Hussain’s long-term future while the team will also lose 40-year-old wicket-keeper Alec Stewart at the end of the five-Test series.
Gough, who always played with a smile on his face and rapidly became a favourite with England and opposition supporters alike, played 58 Tests, taking 229 wickets at 28.39 apiece, putting him eighth on the all-time England list.
His strike-bowling partnership with Andy Caddick (234 wickets) was England’s most effective since Fred Trueman and Brian Statham in the 1950s and early 60s.
Gough, who failed to develop his batting after making a swashbuckling 65 in his debut innings, added: “I hope they (England) don’t feel that, after 229 Test wickets and a body in bits, I’ve let them down.
“I hope I’ve served England well.”
England chairman of selectors David Graveney said: “He has been a brilliant talisman for the English team over the past decade.
“I am sure he would have moved higher up the all-time England wicket-taking list if he hadn’t been so unlucky. He has always given nothing less than 100 percent for his team.”
Tim Lamb, ECB chief executive, said: “Few will forget his hat trick in Sydney in 1999.
“To battle back from a serious knee injury to represent England again this summer showed tremendous courage.
“His talent as a fast bowler, his effervescent character and his huge desire to do well for his country will be sorely missed, not only by the England dressing-room but by cricket supporters everywhere.”
Gough has also played in 121 one-dayers, taking 188 wickets at 24.96.
In his final two appearances against South Africa he managed one wicket for 215 runs in two innings, conceding four runs an over.
Ironically, his last show of character in Tests came with the bat rather than the ball.
When England were skittled for 173 in the first innings at Lord’s last week on their way to an innings defeat, Gough top-scored with 34.—Reuters
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