Menu

Darren Gough

Darren Gough portrait
Darren Gough portrait Image: Wikimedia Commons. en:User:Stephen Turner / CC BY-SA 3.0

Darren Gough (born 18 September 1970) is a retired English cricketer who served as the spearhead of England's bowling attack through much of the 1990s. A right-arm fast bowler and right-handed batsman, he also captained Yorkshire County Cricket Club. He is England's second highest wicket-taker in one-day internationals and one of the country's most successful Test bowlers.

Key facts

Full name Darren Gough
Date of birth 18 September 1970
Nationality English
Role Right-arm fast bowler; right-handed batsman
Height 5 ft 11 in
County Yorkshire County Cricket Club (former captain)
Test matches 58
Test wickets 229
ODI wickets 235
Retirement End of 2008 season

Background

Gough emerged as one of the leading English fast bowlers of his generation. Standing at 5 feet 11 inches and broad in build, he generated his pace through a strong approach to the wicket and a leaping sideways-on action. His delivery was often described as "skiddy", and he was capable of swinging the ball late. Many of his wickets were taken through lbw or bowled dismissals, frequently produced by his inswinging yorker.

Career

Gough played 58 Test matches for England, taking 229 wickets, which places him as England's ninth-most-successful wicket-taker in the format. In one-day internationals he claimed 235 wickets, making him England's second highest wicket-taker in that format. He led Yorkshire County Cricket Club as captain, having been associated with the county throughout his domestic career.

He retired at the end of the 2008 cricket season, with the Australian batsman Justin Langer as his final first-class wicket.

Outside cricket

In 2005, Gough won the third series of Strictly Come Dancing, the BBC celebrity ballroom dancing competition, broadening his public profile beyond the sport.

Significance

Gough's career bridged a transitional era in English cricket, during which he served as the principal strike bowler for the national side in both Test and limited-overs cricket. His wicket totals across both international formats place him among the most prolific English fast bowlers of the modern era.

References