Monday, 22nd September 2008

Has the Dazzler played his last first-class game?

As Darren Gough prepares for his Going Going Gough farewell dinner this evening it appears that he has already played his final first-class match for Yorkshire.

Goughy has not been named in the Yorkshire squad for this weeks LV County Championship match against Sussex and certainly gave the assembled media the impression (after he had left the field at Scarborough to a standing ovation) that he had bowled his last ball in anger: "I have given everything there, three spells of putting my body to the limit. I will see how I rock up on Monday morning and how the other bowlers are. I wanted to go out in style 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. 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."

Justin Langer, who has experienced some tremendous contests with Goughy down the tears paid his own tribute: "He has been a great warrior, he showed in the morning why he is such a well loved part of England society. He ran in and it was like I was batting against him in an Ashes Test match and that just showed what a huge heart he has got and why he is so well-loved in this country. His effort was absolutely monumental."