CHESTER-LE-STREET (England), June 25: England fast bowler Darren Gough has promised to haunt Australia in more ways than one after the hosts suffered their first defeat of the NatWest Series.

Few England players of recent years have thrived more on the verbal banter that accompanies matches between the two teams than Gough, England’s most economical bowler during Thursday’s 57-run day/night defeat here at the Riverside before hitting a career-best 46 not out off 47 balls.

During the match Gough, responding to reports that some Australia players — notably Shane Watson - had become spooked in their nearby ‘haunted’ hotel, did his best impression of a pantomime ghost when the all-rounder came out to bat.

“I’d heard he’s slept on Brett Lee’s floor, so when he came out to bat I told him: ‘Don’t worry, you can sleep in my bed tonight,” joked Gough.

“It started like that and then I gave him the ghost thing as a bit of fun, but he’s a great competitor and great to play against.”

Australia’s win ended a run of four successive defeats and was a morale-booster ahead of the Ashes Tests, which start in July, where the tourists will be looking for a ninth successive series victory.

However, Gough, stressed: “We’ve not read too much into the last few games played by Australia and I’ve always said that”.

“They’re still a quality side and when you’ve got strength in depth like they’ve got and play like they did against us, then they’re a hard team to beat.

“We were under-par against them and didn’t play as well as we can do and I didn’t think the intensity was there in the field - I think there was a feeling that we’d see how many runs they got and then chase them down, but it’s not as easy as that with quality bowlers like that and Brett Lee back in the side.”

But even though England failed to complete a hat trick of one-day wins for the first time since 1997, they did at least have the consolation of seeing last-wicket pair Gough and Stephen Harmison bat out the 50 overs.

Australia failed to hit a boundary off Gough’s last four overs before he hit seven of his own in his innings.

“They came at us quite hard and there were a few words out there,” Gough said. I knew they were going to come hard at the tail-enders and I just thought I would try and give as good as I got and I really enjoyed it.—AFP