LONDON: Former seamer Darren Gough has been appointed as England’s fast-bowling consultant for the warm-up period leading into November’s two-Test tour of New Zealand, the country’s cricket board (ECB) said on Wednesday.

Gough claimed 229 wickets in 58 Tests for England between 1994 and 2003.

“I’m delighted to have Darren on board,” England head coach Chris Silverwood said in a statement. “I have known him a long time and his vast knowledge and experience at international level will drive our bowling unit forward leading into the two-match Test series. He will be excellent around the group and will settle in quickly.”

England are without a bowling coach after Silver­wood was promoted to head coach’s role earlier this month.

Gough, a former Yorkshire team-mate of Silverwood, will join the Test squad in Auckland on Nov 5 and will work with the pace attack for two weeks before the first Test in Mount Maunganui which begins on Nov 21.

“It is a tremendous honour to be asked by Chris Silverwood and Ashley Giles to be involved in this elite environment,” Gough said. “I will gain a lot from the experience and to work at this level will benefit me as a coach for the long-term.”

Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2019