England bowler Darren Gough announced his retirement from Test cricket on Tuesday after deciding his injury-ravaged body could no longer stand up to the strain of playing five-day matches.
Gough, who took 229 wickets in his 58 Tests at an average of 28,39, will still be available for selection for one-day international matches.
The 32-year-old Yorkshire man’s decision to bow out of the Test arena follows a disappointing display in England’s innings defeat by South Africa in the second Test at Lords on Sunday.
Gough, who had returned to the Test side this summer after a two-year absence due to a knee injury, failed to take a wicket as England’s bowlers were mauled by the South African batsmen and there had been speculation that he could be dropped from the side.
In a statement Gough said he had reluctantly come to the conclusion that three operations in the last two years had left his knee too weak for Test cricket.
”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,” Gough said.
”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.”
Gough added: ”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.”
The chair of England’s selectors, David Graveney, paid tribute to Gough’s contribution to the Test side since making his debut in 1994.
”He has been a brilliant talisman for the English team over the past decade,” Graveney said. ”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.”
Gough’s haul of 229 wickets made him England’s eighth most prolific Test wicket-taker of all time. – Sapa-AFP