Gough - the smiling assassin

Darren Gough returned to captain Yorkshire in 2007

Buy this photo

With the dust beginning to settle on another summer of cricket, England and Yorkshire talisman Darren Gough has time to reflect on a career which spanned 20 years.

The ‘Dazzler’ played 248 first-class matches and 420 limited-overs games and is widely recognised as the shining light of his era.

Gough made his first-class debut in 1989 and played his last match for his native Yorkshire at Scarborough on September 20 this year, two days after his 38th birthday.

He had many highlights both on and off the cricket field, including a hat-trick against Australia in an Ashes Test, but despite the fame and adulation he still remains true to his down-to-earth Yorkshire origins.

“If I had to pick one specific highlight that would obviously be the hat-trick,” he told ecb.co.uk. “But overall just playing for Yorkshire and England.

“I came from Monk Bretton and I met Martyn Moxon there. I remember going up and saying I wanted to play for Yorkshire and England. I was lucky enough to get both caps.”

He admits, however, that he might not have been able to play as long as he did if he hadn’t moved to Essex for three years in 2004.

“I think it did me good to leave Yorkshire and find a challenge elsewhere. It took me away from the pressure of playing here,” he confirmed.

“That really played a big part - in getting away from a big club where there was a lot of pressure to a more relaxed atmosphere.”

The draw of Headingley proved to be too much, however, as Gough returned to the Yorkshire helm in 2007 and he is delighted that he was able to see out his career at the club where he had started.

Gough was delighted to go back to Yorkshire for the last two years of his county cricket career

“To come back here last year was amazing,” he agreed. “Although one-day cricket this year has been fantastic and I have really, really enjoyed it, I’ve found it increasingly hard to play in the four-day competition.

“Because I made a conscious decision not to play as much this year, I have found it hard going in and out. But with the injuries we have had, that is what had to happen.”

Injuries have plagued Gough’s career with the rigours of fast bowling not suited to his physique.

“It’s been hard at times,” he said. “There had been times when I had been on the verge of saying enough is enough, but I got a new lease of life by leaving (to Essex) and getting a fresh approach to the game of cricket. It was the only way, really, that I could have carried on.”

“I had just got player of the series in the last two Test series when I got my knee injuries. To have five operations in a year and a half takes a lot out of you. I was struck down at the peak of my career.”

That peak included a thrilling series against West Indies in 2000, which swung both ways before England eventually came out victorious.

“The West Indies games were always good games to part of. There was an amazing finish to it with me and Corky (Dominic Cork) at the crease,” he said.

“Beating South Africa at Headingley in front of my home crowd was also good - I played some great games for England - beating Sri Lanka in Kandy.”

Gough always played with a smile on his face, in whatever the situation his team found themselves

Gough is without question one of the best fast bowlers of his generation, but he paid tribute to some of the batsmen whom he came up against during his career.

“The best player I bowled at was Martin Crowe of New Zealand, but the most annoying was Steve Waugh,” he said. “You always thought you were going to get him out, but you never did get him out.

“The most frustrating was when you got Australia down to 230 for five and you think you are just getting into them and in walks Adam Gilchrist.

“You have bowled 18 or 19 overs and you are just starting to tire and he proceeds to try to hit you all around the ground. He was probably one of the hardest number sevens to bowl at and you knew he was such a vital wicket for Australia.”

Nevertheless, whatever the situation, Gough never let his head down and always played the game in the right spirit.

“Whenever I have played I have enjoyed it,” he said. “I’ve always played it my way and played it with a smile. I’ve enjoyed my time off the field as well as on it, and I couldn’t have done it differently.

“I’d like to be remembered as a good cricketer who brought a smile to the game.”

Gough’s infectious enthusiasm for cricket will be sorely missed. There will never be anyone like him again.