Gough ready to draw curtain

Former England paceman Darren Gough could have played his last game after casting doubt over his availability for Yorkshire’s final match of the season.

Gough has endured a frustrating summer due to various injury niggles and, having already announced this would be his final season, his efforts in this week’s drawn match with Somerset could prove his last.

The 38-year-old produced a fiery spell this morning to briefly raise hopes of a victory for relegation-threatened Yorkshire at Scarborough, but he ended with 2-52 as the LV County Championship match petered out.

With Yorkshire away at Sussex next week, the crowd knew it would be his final first-class match in his home county and he left the field to a rousing reception.

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.

Darren Gough embraces former England team-mate Andrew Caddick at the conclusion of the game at Scarborough

“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.”

Gough will now take stock over the next couple of days before deciding whether he is fit to play in what will be a crucial relegation encounter at Hove.

“I have given everything there, three spells of putting my body to the limit,” he said. “I will see how I rock up on Monday morning and how the other bowlers are.”

Yorkshire remain in the bottom two but the battle to avoid joining Surrey in Division Two is tight with four teams covered by just five points, the others being Lancashire, Kent and next opponents Sussex.

The draw lifted Somerset within eight points of leaders Nottinghamshire and one ahead of Durham in a three-way battle for the title.

Somerset batted throughout the final day, declaring with a lead of 283 on 317 for eight as stumps were drawn an hour before the scheduled close.

A draw had seemed inevitable for most of the match and Gough admitted he was disappointed with the placid pitch, a recurring frustration for him at home matches throughout his tenure as captain.

He said: “I’ve been saying it for two years. Hopefully it will finally kick in at some stage. People are starting to agree with me now.

“You have got to give the bowlers a chance, especially with the bowling line-up Yorkshire have got.

“They need a bit of encouragement because if you turn up time after time and are bowling on wickets like that, you are soon going to get disheartened.”