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Auwais BARTHEZ
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Darren Gough has announced his retirement from Test cricket, following his brave but ultimately futile attempt to re-establish himself following a chronic knee injury last year. Gough, who made his Test debut in 1994, finishes with 229 wickets at 28.39, putting him in eighth place on the all-time list of England wicket-takers. He will, however, remain available to represent the England one-day team.
"I've come to a decision to retire from Test cricket," said Gough, " due to the injury sustained playing for England in New Zealand, and three operations later, the subsequent rehab to get back to Test cricket to prove myself and to other people that I could give Test cricket a go one more time.
"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," added Gough. "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. 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 from Test cricket.
"Thanks to England for giving me the chance to play Test cricket again, thanks to Wayne Morton, Steve Oldham and Scott McCallister for their phenomenal support. Thanks to Colin Graves and Yorkshire CCC and finally the public, I hope they 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 but as you look around there are some very good bowlers all waiting for a chance and good luck to them. I'm a cricket supporter and I will be supporting them."
England's chairman of selectors, David Graveney, added his tributes. "We respect Darren's decision to step down from Test cricket. He has been a brilliant talisman for the English team over the past decade. It has been unfortunate that his career has been blighted by injury and 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% for his team and I am sure that he will be missed, but hopefully his form and fitness will still allow him to make a contribution to English cricket by continuing the outstanding form he has shown this summer in the one-day squad."
Tim Lamb, chief executive of the ECB, said, "Darren has given an enormous amount to English cricket and he will be remembered as one of England's best ever fast bowlers, having been a key member of the Test team since his debut in 1994. Few will forget his hat-trick in Sydney in 1999 or his amazing catch at Lord's against the West Indies in 2000, which, along with his bowling, helped turn the series England's way.
"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."
"I've come to a decision to retire from Test cricket," said Gough, " due to the injury sustained playing for England in New Zealand, and three operations later, the subsequent rehab to get back to Test cricket to prove myself and to other people that I could give Test cricket a go one more time.
"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," added Gough. "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. 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 from Test cricket.
"Thanks to England for giving me the chance to play Test cricket again, thanks to Wayne Morton, Steve Oldham and Scott McCallister for their phenomenal support. Thanks to Colin Graves and Yorkshire CCC and finally the public, I hope they 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 but as you look around there are some very good bowlers all waiting for a chance and good luck to them. I'm a cricket supporter and I will be supporting them."
England's chairman of selectors, David Graveney, added his tributes. "We respect Darren's decision to step down from Test cricket. He has been a brilliant talisman for the English team over the past decade. It has been unfortunate that his career has been blighted by injury and 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% for his team and I am sure that he will be missed, but hopefully his form and fitness will still allow him to make a contribution to English cricket by continuing the outstanding form he has shown this summer in the one-day squad."
Tim Lamb, chief executive of the ECB, said, "Darren has given an enormous amount to English cricket and he will be remembered as one of England's best ever fast bowlers, having been a key member of the Test team since his debut in 1994. Few will forget his hat-trick in Sydney in 1999 or his amazing catch at Lord's against the West Indies in 2000, which, along with his bowling, helped turn the series England's way.
"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."
