County - Gough's first-class career over

Eurosport - Tue, 23 Sep 18:14:00 2008

Darren Gough's first-class career is officially over after the retiring Yorkshire skipper was left out of the county's crucial clash with Sussex.

CRICKET 2008 - Darren Gough, Yorkshire - 0

Former England star Gough, 38, announced his intention to retire at the end of the current campaign earlier this season and, after being omitted from the side which travels to Hove, he has now played his final match at the top level.

He was on duty against Somerset last week, picking up two for 52 - including former Australia batsman Justin Langer - in what proved to be his last first-class innings.

Gough, a veteran of 58 Tests and 159 one-day internationals, leaves the game with 855 first-class wickets in a career spanning two spells at his native Yorkshire and one stint with Essex.

Yorkshire, who have included an uncapped 19-year-old in Jonathan Bairstow in their squad, go into the match against the reigning county champions with their top-flight status under threat.

After Saturday's draw with Somerset, Gough, Yorkshire skipper for the past two seasons, said: "I wanted to go out in style today - and that proved to me I am ready to retire, I am absolutely shattered now.

"I bowled as quick as I have for a long, long time in that first spell. I had the opposition saying that is the quickest they have faced all season and when they say stuff like that, I'd like to finish on that note.

"When I look back I'm glad my last wicket was Justin Langer. I've had some great battles against him and it's nice to know my last wicket in Yorkshire was someone as good as him."

Sporting Life / Eurosport

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  1. ...a sad end to an otherwise brilliant career! despite­ that, good on ya mate, it was an absolute pleasure­ watching you do your thing year in and year out! weight­ or no weight, Goughie still deserves respect for his­ exploits in the England Shirt. three cheers for you­ Goughie!!!

    From ndumie_haloof, on Wed 1 Oct 11:48AM

  2. Dazzling Dazza....
    As an Aussie, having lived in­ Yorkshire on and off, I have seen first hand both in­ Australia and England what a fierce competitor he is.­ He will be lost to the game, but its a compliment to­ him that a number of Aussies have said over the years­ that he wouldn't look out of place in a baggy­ green.
    Well done Goughie, you can look back on your­ career with pride

    From leftarmstreak, on Thu 25 Sep 8:00AM

  3. Well done Darren!! Great ambassador for world cricket.­ 100% commitment, 100% lions. Class, quality and fun.­ What more need be said...

    From nocohere, on Tue 23 Sep 11:26AM

  4. Good luck, Darren. You have been a great asset to­ English and county cricket. If it wasn't from the­ mysterious methods of the selectors you would have­ earned many more caps.
    Yorkshire cricket will be a­ strange theatre without you but you need to move on and­ there is probably another young 'Goughie'­ waiting in the wings

    From Ray S, on Tue 23 Sep 10:06AM

  5. Cheers mate and thanks for lighting up cricket for the­ past 2 decades. Played very hard but always with a­ smile, and for a long time carried England as their­ only world class performer. Great spell last Saturday­ morning at Scarborough too, I bet JL thought so! It­ showed what we're going to miss next year. I too­ wish you hadn't done the Essex thing, but under the­ circumstances at that time, I think most people in­ Yorkshire understood. Good luck for the future.

    From Bob, on Tue 23 Sep 8:51AM

  6. thanks darren,wish you had not deserted us for essex

    From David, on Tue 23 Sep 12:23AM

  7. Good luck Darren Gough, a good career and at 38 I­ don't think he can be criticised too much.

    From beryll, on Mon 22 Sep 7:06PM

  8. Likes beer too much.Loves the TV star bit,a little too­ much and too much weight.Decided not to go on Englang­ tour,because of SCDancing contract.He was a rather good­ full pitched fast bowler,who could swing it into the­ batsman.Was meant to be an all rounder,but batting­ collapsed mid way through his international careeer

    From NW36HS, on Mon 22 Sep 7:02PM
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