Darren Gough: A dazzling, entertaining cricketer; England and Yorkshire legend - Cricket Country › Darren Gough: A dazzling, entertaining cricketer; England and Yorkshire legend Darren Gough, born on September 18, 1970, is a former England and Yorkshire fast bowler and handy lower-order batsman. Jaideep Vaidya profiles the man who was called the pulse of the England dressing room during his time. | Updated : July 7, 2014 1:21 AM IST Darren Gough © Getty Images Darren Gough, born on September 18, 1970, is a former England and Yorkshire fast bowler and handy lower-order batsman. Jaideep Vaidya profiles the man who was called the pulse of the England dressing room during his time. It is a huge pity that Darren Gough was probably born 10 years too early. Born in 1970, and having played majority of his cricket in the 1990s, a character Gough was unlucky to have been part of possibly the worst England cricket team of all time.

The word ‘character’ has been deliberately used here, instead of the more clichéd ‘talent’, because Gough was such a wholehearted and colourful one. He was, as David Lloyd rightly termed, “the heartbeat of the England team”, always enjoying his cricket and doing his best to ensure that his mates enjoy it with him. Not once in his career did he ever have the fear of failure; he was as happy-go-lucky as they come. He was the sort of bloke who wouldn’t give a damn about homework or bother to find out who the opposition was. It didn’t matter to him; all that mattered was that he was going to have to take the ball and bat in his hand and deliver. And if he didn’t, never mind, there was always tomorrow. That isn’t to say that Gough was an unserious cricketer who wouldn’t mind dabbling in mediocrity. You sure can’t say that about a man who became the first England cricketer to get 200 wickets in One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and was, until James Anderson went past him in 2013 , the country’s highest wicket-taker in the format.

He was a very noticeable man on the field, built with a somewhat stocky frame and a unique bowling action to go along with it. He used to charge in, huffing and puffing like a freight train with his chest expanding and contracting faster than a marathon runner. His delivery stride would include a leap in the air coupled with a side-on action before delivering the ball. He wasn’t Allan Donald in pace, and neither was he Wasim Akram in swing, but he was just the right amount of both and made up for any shortcomings with the energy he brought to the game. When English cricket was going through a severe bad phase after the retirement of Ian Botham and before the dawn of the Freddie Flintoff generation, Gough was the ‘go-to man’ for his captain. This wasn’t just because he was a capable bowling all-rounder and one of the best in the business, but also because of the influence he had on the dressing room, especially on the younger players towards the latter half of his career. “Gough was my trump card. He was our Botham,” wrote Nasser Hussain in his autobiography Playing with Fire.

“When I became captain I’d identified certain people from whom I had to have 100 per cent support, and Gough was right up there in our team. I love him to death and think he has been arguably our most influential bowler since Botham, but he was also dangerous in that he was such a magnet and such an influence in the dressing room that the young players took notice of anything he said.” Gough was, as his autobiography is aptly titled, a ‘Dazzler’; and he very well knew it. September 18, 1970 was a sad day for the world of rock’n'roll. It was the day when Jimi Hendrix was found dead at the age of 27 in his London home.

However, as Gough would observe in his autobiography, “That date in 1970 may have been a bad day for rock’n'roll, but for the Gough family, and the cricket world in general, the more important event of the day was the arrival of Trevor and Christine’s first son, Darren.” Gough did not find out about his connection with Hendrix until much later, and when he did his reaction apparently was, “One legend goes, another arrives.” Gough was, on his own admission, quite the showman. Born and raised in the Barnsley town of Yorkshire, Gough was immersed into sport right from the beginning. He excelled in football, cricket, rugby and athletics, and had a preference for the former growing up. He represented Barnsley youth teams, idolised Glenn Hoddle as a boy and had dreams of playing in the Premiership for Tottenham. However, those dreams were soon dashed when he realised that although he had the skill set, he did not have the speed that a midfielder ideally should. So, young Gough concentrated on his cricket and went on to represent Yorkshire in various age groups, the Second XI and eventually the first team.

On his First-Class debut in 1989, against Middlesex at Lord’s, Gough picked up three for 44 in the first innings, including his first wicket that came off just his eighth delivery, that of England international Paul Downton, followed by two for 46 in the second. It was enough for all the national newspapers to be talking about the new lad from Yorkshire, with the Daily Telegraph even going overboard by calling him the “son of a Barnsley rat-catcher”, which did not please Gough Sr. who was actually a pest control officer. Gough did not quite live up to his billing of the next big thing as he went on to take just 24 championship wickets at an average of 41, which earned him the following comments in Wisden: “Darren Gough did little to justify the high hopes held for him.” In 1991, Gough could manage a grand total of 16 wickets at over 55, although on the batting front, he did perform better.

Gough recorded his maiden First-Class half-century that year, against Northamptonshire, along with an unbeaten 60 against Lancashire that prompted Mike Watkinson to call him “the first white West Indian to play for Yorkshire” in an era when the white rose team shunned from recruiting foreign players. Gough would follow it up with a three-wicket haul in the same match. In 1992, Gough did a little better, taking 25 wickets in 11 games at 36.40. After a miserable first half of 1993, his fifth professional season, where he managed just 16 wickets, Gough contemplated a move away from the club for the first time. He was growing increasingly demotivated and it had begun to take a toll on his fitness and lifestyle too. However, he was talked out of moving by girlfriend Anna who said that he should concentrate on getting fitter instead. Gough wrote: “I had been going through the motions for long enough. I wanted success in my cricketing life — and excitement. I had been confused about how I should be bowling. I did not realise that it was also about fitness and lifestyle.

When your girlfriend tells you to get fit, you want to get fit for her. Yorkshire never gave me the kick up the arse that I needed. Anna did that.” And just like that, the second half of the season produced 39 wickets for Gough. He had gone from ‘Guzzler’ to Dazzler’, and an England call-up wasn’t far away. Thus, after a stellar First-Class season where he took 55 wickets, and after a year or so of travelling with the England squad but being restricted to carrying drinks, Gough was to get his first England cap in a one-dayer against New Zealand at Edgbaston in May 1994. Not that a debut match wouldn’t be nerve-wracking, but Gough’s sense of anxiety was high since he hadn’t done so well at the venue in the past. It was a packed house, with 18,000-odd people present waiting in anticipation of the debutant, as compared to the few hundreds that turned up to watch the county fixtures.

Gough’s skipper Mike Atherton didn’t help ease the pressure when he told the press that Gough was “England’s second-quickest bowler after Devon Malcolm.” England put on a modest 224 for eight batting first, Gough was not required to bat. Finally, he got the ball in his hand. “I took a long look around the ground, kissed the single lion on my sweater and charged in for all I was worth…I was pumped up and hoped all the adrenalin might add an extra yard.” Facing him at the striker’s end was the legendary Martin Crowe . Gough’s first ball was dug into the ribs of the New Zealander; good start. The next ball, however, was a bad ball: it was short and wide and begged to be cut away to the boundary. Crowe tried to play the guiding shot down to third-man, but instead found the edge that was easily pouched by Alec Stewart at slip.

“I could not believe it: a wicket in my first England over, and one of the best batsmen in the world, too.” Gough would then remove a settled Bryan Young with one of his trademark inswinging yorkers, and ended up with figures of two for 36 in his debut match; it could have been three had Chris Lewis not dropped a sitter in the deep. England won by 42 runs and Gough was “in seventh heaven. This was why I’d played cricket all these years. This was where I belonged,” he wrote. The new chairman of the board, Ray Illingworth, also a Yorkshireman, and who had pushed for Gough’s inclusion in the team, noted: “Darren Gough is my sort of player. There aren’t many who are more positive, and he enjoys his cricket so much, there doesn’t seem to be the slightest fear of failure. Aggression, penetration — call it what you like, some bowlers have it and some don’t.

That’s why I pushed for Gough.” Darren Gough took 229 wickets in 58 Tests for England at an average of 28.39 © Getty Images Gough’s Test debut was to follow suit, at Manchester for the third and final match. Batting first, England had squandered an advantage of 104 for three to end up on 235 for seven when Gough strode out to the middle to bat alongside Phil DeFreitas. The unlikely duo carved out a defiant partnership of 130, which began tentatively but ended up in both trying to outdo one another in boundaries. Gough soon brought up his fourth First-Class half-century and was out stumped for 65 off 126 balls, including 10 boundaries; DeFreitas made 69 and helped England to a healthy total of 382. Gough was not done yet.

“That 65 made me feel part of the team and I went out to bowl feeling that failure was not an option.” On the fifth legitimate delivery of his first over, Gough got Mark Greatbatch to duck out of the way of a short one, only to glove it to Graeme Hick at second slip. By the time the Kiwi innings ended 231 short of England’s total, Gough’s figures on debut read four for 47; he took two more wickets in the second innings, even as the match ended in a draw. Gough’s performance, at 23 years of age, was enough for him to be hailed as “the new Botham”. That winter, in his first Ashes series, Gough ensured that he did his best to live up to the tag. At Sydney for the New Years’ Test of 1995, after coming in trailing 0-2, Gough had made two ambitious resolutions: not to lose a Test match to Australia in 1995 and not to get out in the middle of a Shane Warne hat-trick.

The first resolution was already hanging in the balance when England found themselves shaking at 20 for three, before Atherton and John Crawley addd 174 for the fourth wicket. However, another collapse of four wickets for four runs was to follow, before Gough went out to bat at 197 for seven. “Fasten your seatbelts”, is what Gough told commentator Mark Nicholas, who had wandered into the England dressing room, before he went out to bat on Day Two. “The next hour was heaven. I swung from the arse…and connected,” wrote Gough. “The Aussies got rattled and started moaning at Craig McDermott. ‘Bounce him.’ He did and that’s when I hooked him for six. Then I hit him back over his head. Finally, I pushed a single for my 50 and then gave the crowd that famous lasso salute, swirling the bat around my head. Of course I was carried away. The SCG (Sydney Cricket Ground) was full, I’d never heard a noise like it and I’d belted the cream of Australia’s bowling to all parts.

I was out soon afterwards [for 51], caught hooking, but the whole mood of the game had changed,” as England went past 300. Wisden described Gough’s innings as a “jaunty innings of village-green innocence and charm.” Graham Gooch said that it was “just like having Ian Botham around,” to which Illingworth replied, “Don’t let us compare him to Beefy (Botham), Fred Trueman or anyone else. Let us just be happy we’ve got Goughie.” Not yet satisfied, Gough followed up his thrilling half-century with six for 49 with the ball, all but completing his own Headingley ’81. “As the wickets fell, I realised that this was my Test. Everything I tried — yorkers, slower balls, off-cutters, leg-spin — worked. It’s a great feeling when anything seems possible. You must grab the moment, because it doesn’t happen that often in your career, however gifted you may be.” Perhaps Gough himself did not know how true those words would turn out to be.

He was soon to be ruled out of the rest of the tour after cracking his foot, the first of the many injuries that would dog his career. Injuries notwithstanding, Gough went on to become England’s first-choice strike bowler for Atherton, and later under Hussain and would be new coach Duncan Fletcher. Throughout the mid-late nineties, England were far from the top row of teams in world cricket and even languished at the bottom of the heap for a while. However, Gough’s mere presence in the dressing room was enough to provide them whatever little belief that they could perform well. “He provided the effervescent spirit and fun that stopped the team becoming too dour under Mike Atherton, or too intense under Nasser Hussain,” wrote Emma John in The Observer. Gough crafted variations in his bowling to add to his ability of bowling fast and swinging it both ways: he soon developed a deceiving slower ball and also a nipping off-cutter. By the time he visited Australian shores again, he was good enough to become the first England bowler in over a hundred years to get an Ashes hat-trick, also at his beloved SCG, in front of a record turnout of 43,000.

He was subsequently named Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1999. “In a team of brooders and worriers, he stood out for his bullish enthusiasm,” cricket’s bible wrote of him. “England need Darren Gough, and not just for his wickets.” Under Hussain and Fletcher, Gough was part of a squad that won four series in a row between 2000 and 2001, the first time such a feat had been achieved since the time Mike Brearley was captain. Gough was Man of the Series at home to the West Indies, a historic triumph for England when the Wisden Trophy changed sides for the first time in 27 years, and also on the slow and sluggish wickets of Sri Lanka. No wicket was too flat for him. Finally, after playing 58 Test matches and getting 229 wickets, Gough called it quits from the longer format in 2003 after another one of his injuries, this time to the knee. It brought an end to an unfulfilled and incomplete chapter in his career, majorly undone by injury, and it’s a pity that he could not go on to play more.

If he had played 100, he would easily have gone on to break his idol Botham’s wicket tally in Tests (383). Nevertheless, he retired as one of England’s top 10 wicket-takers of all time in Tests and continued to play in the shorter format. In January 2004, Gough parted ways with Yorkshire after 15 years and headed south to play for Essex, citing family reasons. He was only a shadow of his former self in the international arena after returning from his knee injury, but still had hopes of playing in the 2007 World Cup, after missing the 2003 edition. In 2005, Gough became the first of many England cricketers to participate in the reality TV show Strictly Come Dancing. The following year, he would play his final one-dayer before being dropped permanently from the squad, starting with the tour of India in the winter. Expressing his displeasure at the decision, he told the BBC in his typical style, “I’m disappointed because I think I am one of the best bowlers at the end of a one-day match.

You can’t buy one of them at a local superstore — it takes years and years.” In 2007, after much persuasion, Gough returned home to Yorkshire as captain, saying, “…they know I’ll run through brick walls for Yorkshire.” He played on for a couple of seasons before hanging up his boots once and for all, finally giving up on any hopes of an England call-back. Thus, Gough ended his international career as England’s most successful bowler in ODIs with 235 wickets at a miserly 26.42. The record has since been surpassed by James Anderson. In First-Class cricket, he took 855 wickets in 248 matches at 27.15 and scored 4,607 runs as well. If he were born 10 years later, he would easily have been one of the best bowlers in the world given England’s resurrection in the mid 2000s to a world beating side. Given his personality and swagger, he would also have made an exciting bowler in the shortest format of the game, Twenty20, which unfortunately rose to prominence much after his day.

Gough, however, has no regrets except one. “To be successful against Australia was the one thing I dreamed of and I never achieved it and that’s a huge, huge disappointment in my life,” he told All Out Cricket in an interview. Nevertheless, Gough will go down as one of England’s best fast bowlers, if not the world’s, and would always be remembered by his mates for being the life of the dressing room. Even though he hasn’t been involved in the game a lot after his retirement, never say never because this is a guy who once said, as quoted by BBC, “I still want to be playing some form of cricket when I’m 50. I’m sure some village pub team will have me. So many cricketers retire and say they’ll never pick up a bat again. I can never understand that.” No one’s surprised, Dazzler. Memory Match: Durham Jets - News - Yorkshire County Cricket Club Memory Match: Durham Jets — 20 July 2016 Unsurprisingly, Durham has always been a member of the northern group in the T20 competitions since their introduction in 2003.

The playing record (see below) shows how closely-matched the two sides have been over the preceding 13 seasons and Paul Dyson revisits the closest match yet between these two counties. June 22, 2008 at Headingley: Yorkshire 159-7 in 20 overs (A McGrath 65, MP Vaughan 34, JA Rudolph 33, SJ Harmison 4-38); Durham 159-7 in 20 overs (P Mustard 40, RM Pyrah 4-20). Match tied This was a very important match for both sides. Each of the two counties came into this match with four wins from their six games and were sitting in the top two positions in the North Group table. Whereas Yorkshire had lost each of their other two matches Durham had had one abandonment and one defeat so it was they who were in first place. Wisden felt that, with Gale and Breese both playing, it was appropriate to mention that the game was played in a howling wind! Durham won the toss and asked Yorkshire to bat.

Two early wickets brought Anthony McGrath to the crease with the total on 17 and he remained at the crease until the final over. Giving the innings stability as well as momentum, McGrath shared stands of 61 with Michael Vaughan, who scored 34 from 24 balls, and 74 in nine overs with Jacques Rudolph who made 33 from 24 balls. That made the score 152 for four in the penultimate over. Durham’s opening bowlers, Liam Plunkett and South African Shaun Pollock, had now taken three wickets between them but the final over belonged to Steve Harmison and he took the same number of wickets in the six remaining balls. McGrath’s 65 from 58 balls ended when he was caught by Michael di Venuto and with Tim Bresnan and Simon Guy also falling to catches the final total of 159 for seven was 10-15 runs lighter than it might have been. Harmison’s final figures were four for 38 and McGrath had top-scored for the sixth time in seven consecutive matches.

Durham started their reply well with an opening stand of 49 between di Venuto and wicket-keeper Phil Mustard (40 from 28 balls). Matthew Hoggard then bowled di Venuto and had Will Smith caught but Richard Pyrah applied the brakes and took all of the next four wickets to leave the visitors on 94 for six. As well as dismissing Pollock he also removed Albie Morkel, another South African, and became the first Yorkshire bowler to take four wickets in a T20 match. However the game was far from won and Ben Harmison, in the company of Gareth Breese, took the score to 133 before he was bowled by Darren Gough to give the Yorkshire skipper his first wicket of the match. Gough became the villain in the 19th over, though, when he was no-balled for not having enough fielders inside the circle. This left Bresnan having the responsibility of the final over when 14 were needed for victory. Plunkett faced five balls with a sequence of 2..41 and this meant that Breese was now on strike needing a six to tie.

The stocky batsman stepped away to leg, hoisted the ball over extra-cover and the game finished in an exact tie with both runs and wickets being the same. So Durham remained in first place and this was reinforced by the result of the return fixture which took place just two days later when the hosts won by 39 runs (D/L Method). Yorkshire then had an abandoned fixture against Leicestershire but won at Trent Bridge to claim a quarter-final place along with Durham and Lancashire who had crept into the runners-up spot. Except that farce intervened. Yorkshire were drawn away to Durham but in the meantime it was discovered that in playing Azeem Rafiq against Nottinghamshire a regulation governing an illegible player had been transgressed. With many spectators having travelled to Chester-le-Street and the ground filling up nicely in front of television cameras the ECB, with just minutes to go before the toss, decreed that the game could not take place until an investigation had run its course. The outcome was that Yorkshire were guilty and Glamorgan took their place in the quarter-finals.

Durham beat the Welsh county but then lost to Middlesex on finals day at Southampton on July 26th, the London-based team then beating Kent in the final. Durham supporters had a long journey for that short experience but at least they did get to see a match unlike the Yorkshire fans just 19 days previously. Men of the Match: It was last autumn that Anthony McGrath embarked on the latest part of his career in cricket when he was appointed Essex’s new Assistant Head Coach. This re-united him with Chris Silverwood, now Head Coach, the pair of them having been Yorkshire team-mates together for 11 seasons including the trophy successes of 2001 and 2002. Having been an opening batsman with England U-19, McGrath was tried in that role in his early days with Yorkshire but it was not a success and he soon settled in the middle order where he stayed until a thumb injury forced his retirement in 2012.

Improving with age, he never averaged more than 35 in any first-class season from 1995 to 2002 but passed 1000 runs for the first time in 2005, repeated this in the following year, and averaged around the 60-mark in both seasons. Having been appointed Yorkshire’s youngest captain for 70 years at the start of 2003, McGrath found himself wanted by England. He made his Test debut in the May of that year and his first ODI followed one month later. Although he lost his place in the Test side, after just four matches, his ten ODIs encouraged him to believe that he could play in more and so he resigned the Yorkshire captaincy to concentrate on his international career. This did not quite work out either as he played in only four more ODIs – all in 2004 and he became somewhat disillusioned. This sense increased so much so that after the 2006 season he decided to leave Yorkshire even though there was still three years left on his contract.

His agent and solicitors stated that he would not play for Yorkshire in 2007 but the county were insisting on him honouring his contract and this stand-off continued for several months. However, when Darren Gough was persuaded to leave Essex and captain Yorkshire and Martyn Moxon returned from Durham as coach McGrath did a complete about-turn and stayed with Yorkshire for eight more seasons – six as player and two on the coaching staff. One of his playing seasons was again as captain as he became the only Yorkshire player to be appointed twice. This was in 2009 but he resigned at the end of that season as his batting form had suffered. A batsman who often held the innings together in the lower-middle order, McGrath played successfully in all three forms of the game. His county record ended with him having scored 14,091 runs in 242 first-class matches, 7,220 in 275 limited-overs games and 1,403 in 66 T20 matches. A more-than-useful medium pace bowler he took 230 wickets in the three competitions combined. All Yorkshire supporters will wish him well in his new post.

An outstanding all-rounder and brilliant fielder in white-ball cricket, Richard Pyrah retired from playing at the end of 2015 and started his coaching career with Jason Gillespie at the Adelaide Strikers and is now continuing it on the Yorkshire staff and with the Yorkshire Diamonds, in particular, in the women’s Kia Super League. Pyrah’s 12 seasons included being capped in 2010, him becoming the first player to receive such an award when it was based on performances in limited-overs matches. This was also the case with his benefit of 2015 – a just reward for his loyalty to Yorkshire when he could well have received greater opportunities in first-class cricket had he moved elsewhere. Although his record in the County Championship was disappointing, he did play one famous innings: after Yorkshire had collapsed to 45 for eight against Lancashire at Headingley in 2011, Pyrah scored 117 and played a vital part in what was a compelling game which the visitors won in the end but only by 23 runs.

The only Yorkshire bowler to take over 100 wickets in T20 cricket (he stands 31 ahead of Adil Rashid), Pyrah often bowled in the middle overs and his economy often caused opposing batsmen to become careless and give their wickets away; his skilful use of swing and seam, though, often contributed to his collection of valuable scalps. In 118 List A matches Pyrah scored 1,084 runs and took 140 wickets and in the 20-overs format 593 runs and 108 wickets in 105 matches. As with McGrath, all will wish this loyal player well in his new role. YORKSHIRE v DURHAM Correct to June 30, 2016 Results (home and away) Played 25, Yorkshire won 12, lost 11, tied 1 with 1 no result.

Highest innings totals Yorkshire 198-4 Headingley 2003 Away 186-8 Chester-le-Street 2014 Durham 215-6 Chester-le-Street 2013 Away 191-6 Headingley 2015 Lowest innings totals Yorkshire 90-9 Chester-le-Street 2009 At Home 95 Headingley 2014 Durham 98 Chester-le-Street 2006 Away 116-8 Headingley 2009 Highest individual innings Yorkshire 102* JM Bairstow Chester-le-Street 2014 At home 92 JM Bairstow Headingley 2015 Durham 91 P Mustard Chester-le-Street 2013 Away 91* G Clark Headingley 2015 Highest wicket partnerships Yorks 137* (2nd) AW Gale (60*) & HH Gibbs (76*) Headingley 2010 Durham 101 (3rd) LRPL Taylor (49) & DM Benkenstein (57) Chester

-le-Street 2010 NOTE: The stand between Gale and Gibbs is Yorkshire’s best against any opponent in T20 matches.

Best bowling Yorkshire 5-16 RM Pyrah Scarborough 2011 Away 4-25 RJ Sidebottom Chester-le-Street 2012 Durham 4-37 KK Jennings Chester-le-Street 2015 Away 4-38 SJ Harmison Headingley 2008 NOTE: Pyrah’s analysis is the best for Yorkshire in all T20 matches. Most dismissals in an innings by a wicket-keeper Yorkshire 5 (4 ct, 1 st) GL Brophy Chester-le-Street 2008 3 (3 ct) RJ Blakey Headingley 2003 Durham 3 (3 ct) P Mustard Chester-le-Street 2016 NOTES: Brophy’s five dismissals is the record for Yorkshire against any opponent in T20 matches. Most catches in an innings by a fielder Yorkshire 4 AJ Finch Chester-le-Street 2014 Durham 4 GR Breese Scarborough 2011 NOTE: These are the only instances of four catches in a match for either of these two counties against any of their opponents in T20 cricket.

Newsletter Sign up Cricket Cricket Localizaï¿½ï¿½o: Sintra Idade: 36 Localizaï¿½ï¿½o: Sintra Idade: 36 Posts: 14.807 Bangalore off the bottom Bangalore Royal Challengers produced a disciplined bowling display at the death to claim a three-run win over Deccan Chargers and move off the foot of the Indian Premier League on Saturday. The Royal Challengers claimed four wickets for just five runs in the space of nine balls to limit their opponents to 153 for six and record only their second win in IPL. VVS Laxman and Rohit Sharma shared a stand of 96 - Sharma becoming the highest run-scorer in the IPL with 235 - but it was not enough as the Royal Challengers' total of 156 for eight proved sufficient. Praveen Kumar recorded figures of three for 23 and Zaheer Khan two for 24 before Sanjay Bangar hit two sixes off the final over from Anil Kumble (pictured playing for India) to take the clash down to the final ball. But Kumble held his nerve to secure victory.

The Royal Challengers certainly had their bowling attack to thank for victory after earlier struggling to get the better of the Deccan spinners. Wassim Jaffer and Virat Kohli shared a second-wicket partnership of 72 after Bharat Chipli (10) went early, but found it hard to cope with the loss of Jaffer for 44. Jacques Kallis (six) and Kohli (38) were then deceived by the spin of Pragyan Ojha and RP Singh respectively in the space of four balls. Misbah-ul-Haq (three) and Mark Boucher (16) also went cheaply, the former falling victim to a Shahid Afridi quicker delivery and Boucher slicing on to his stumps. Rahul Dravid though offered some resistance towards the end of the innings, making Scott Styris pay for dropping him on 12 by cracking two maximums from the New Zealander's last over on his way to a rapid 26. The Chargers started the run chase at a leisurely pace and Adam Gilchrist (10) was well caught by Jaffer right on the boundary rope as he looked to up the tempo.

Gibbs pulled a short delivery for four to get off the mark, but that was as good as it got for the South African before he was on his way back to the pavilion for six. Sharma though continued his impressive form after a brief delay due to floodlight failure. He clipped an effortless six off his pads and followed that shot up with two quickfire fours, one punched through square leg and the second cut past point, while Laxman played the spin of Kumble expertly. But Sharma eventually holed out for 57 and Laxmen fell lbw to Kumar for 52 as the Royal Challengers' accurate and ecomonical bowling proved decisive. Sporting Life / Eurosport Localizaï¿½ï¿½o: Sintra Idade: 36 Posts: 14.807 Vettori injury scare at Essex Alastair Cook proved his fitness and Daniel Vettori was left worried about his, in a tale of two finger injuries at Chelmsford on Saturday. New Zealand captain Vettori finished day two of the tour match against Essex in pain with doubt surrounding the extent of a nasty cut to the forefinger of his bowling hand.

While he must ponder whether he should take part in a final warm-up match before the first Test at Lord's, Essex's England opener proved he can bat without discomfort from the right little finger he dislocated on Friday. Cook's reassurance was in contrast to the disquiet in the Kiwi camp about their captain and premier spinner, on a day when Ravi Bopara demonstrated his blistering form with a sixth successive half-century from as many attempts in all cricket so far this season. Bopara's 66 was the most significant contribution as the hosts replied to 355 all out with 251 for nine. The most notable incident, though, came in innocuous circumstances when Vettori cut his finger backing up a throw at the stumps from his vice-captain Brendon McCullum shortly after tea. The result was a hasty retreat and a second trip to hospital in as many days - after Cook's precautionary x-ray - for prospective participants in this summer's three-Test series.

Bopara, discarded by England after a miserable run of low scores last winter but due to face these same opponents for the Lions this week, looked set to keep Essex in contention until his departure signalled the loss of three wickets in two overs for one run in late afternoon. Play had begun with an Essex career-best six for 57 for Ryan ten Doeschate, who finished off a troublesome last-wicket stand between Michael Mason and Iain O'Brien when he struck with his first ball of a sunny morning to have the former lbw pushing forward. Then in what is effectively a bowl-off between Mason (four for 59) and O'Brien (three for 46) for a place in the tourists' attack at Lord's, the former made the early running. He first saw off Jason Gallian, pushing forward but pinned lbw on off-stump, before he had Cook nibbling a catch behind which just carried to McCullum. Bopara began with a pedigree on-drive for four off Mason from the first ball he received but had luck on his side when he inside-edged Jacob Oram just past his leg-stump for another boundary.

There were some plays and misses too from both Bopara and Tom Westley as the Kiwi pace bowlers regularly found swing. Yet a delivery which achieved no lateral movement finally did for Westley, Kyle Mills locating the edge from short of a length for a routine caught-behind. The passage of play which followed was out of keeping with all that came before and afterwards. Bopara struck nine boundaries from 109 balls, and his captain Mark Pettini was equally fluent in a fourth-wicket stand of 69 in 15 overs. But after Bopara picked out short cover with an aerial back-foot drive at O'Brien, Ten Doeschate went for just a single to a bat-pad catch off Vettori. Pettini then had his middle stump uprooted by some lethal reverse swing from O'Brien, and a near action replay five overs later did for James Middlebrook. The hosts needed a significant rearguard, which appeared unlikely with James Foster gone soon after tea to an inglorious attempt to carve Mason's inswing to leg - and resulting loss of off-stump.

But that provided Alex Tudor with a chance to remind everyone of his finest hour - 99 against New Zealand in an Edgbaston Test nine years ago - and the ex-England fast bowler took his cue for some sensible batting. Tudor was the senior partner in a half-century stand with Tony Palladino - which dragged Essex to within sight of only a double-figure deficit - but he fell nine short of his 50 to an athletic catch by wicketkeeper McCullum off Mason. Sporting Life / Eurosport Localizaï¿½ï¿½o: Sintra Idade: 36 Posts: 14.807 County - Round-up: Vaughan poor but Yorks draw Michael Vaughan again struggled to produce his top form but Yorkshire salvaged a draw with red-hot Nottinghamshire at Headingley. The England skipper made just 32 in his county's second-innings total of 187 for eight, meaning he is still to record a half-century so far this summer with the home Test series against New Zealand less than a fortnight away.

Notts seamer Ryan Sidebottom claimed three for 39 to show just why he is a shoo-in for Peter Moores' squad, while Stuart Broad (two for 26) and Graeme Swann (two for 53) also did their causes no harm. Their efforts eventually proved in vain, however, as Yorkshire closed the final day 64 runs ahead with Notts never getting a chance to bat for a second time. Earlier, discarded England wicketkeeper Chris Read hit a superb 142 as the visitors raced to 422 all out in response to Yorkshire's 299. Tim Bresnan claimed the final three wickets to fall to finish with four for 51. The draw ensures promoted Nottinghamshire remain top of the fledgling Division One table ahead of their hosts. Surrey's evergreen Mark Ramprakash completed his 99th first-class hundred as champions Sussex recorded their third draw in three matches at Hove. The 38-year-old former England batsman hit 15 fours in a sublime 123 before he was caught and bowled by Ollie Rayner shortly before lunch.

Surrey declared after tea on 400 for five, securing maximum batting points having resumed their first innings at 164 for two on the final day. Usman Afzaal (71) and Ali Brown (76 not out) put on 141 for the fifth wicket in the afternoon. Chris Nash and Carl Hopkinson led Sussex to 13 for none in their second innings from as many overs, a lead of 88, before the captains shook hands. In Division Two, skipper Nicky Boje struck the first double-century of both his career and the new season as rock-bottom Northamptonshire staved off almost certain defeat against Worcestershire to claim a draw. The home side were staring at an innings loss when the former South Africa spinner came to the crease on Friday - their first-innings 168 dwarfed by the visitors' 400 for eight - but his unbeaten 226 saved the match.

It looked ominous in the morning when Boje - whose previous first-class best was 125 - lost overnight partner David Sales (52) early on but he coped magnificently, putting on 181 for the fifth wicket with compatriot Lance Klusener (74). Johann Louw joined Boje to add an unbeaten 67 as Northants closed on 514 for five. Sporting Life / Eurosport Localizaï¿½ï¿½o: Sintra Idade: 36 Posts: 14.807 Harmison may quit cricket if dropped Steve Harmison is likely to quit cricket if he fails to win back his England place, the fast bowler said. The Durham paceman was dropped after England lost the first test in New Zealand in March and in his absence the team won two matches in a row to take the series 2-1. "The prospect of playing for England is what drives me and if I felt my chance of doing that was gone the probability is I'd retire from first-class cricket altogether," Harmison told the Mail on Sunday. "This is not an ultimatum or me trying to impose conditions on anyone.

But I am 29 now and if I felt my England career was over I would be tempted to say I want to do something different with my life." Although Harmison retired from one-day internationals in 2006, he is desperate to add to his haul of 212 test wickets. "I am absolutely determined to show I have something to offer England," he said. "I certainly do not believe I am finished. "After a terrible year for me on the field with injuries, operations and so little cricket it is ridiculous, my aim is to bowl fast, take wickets and give the selectors something to think about." England open the three-match home series against New Zealand with the first test at Lord's starting on May 15. Reuters Localizaï¿½ï¿½o: Sintra Idade: 36 Posts: 14.807 Shoaib can play in IPL Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar's five-year ban has been suspended for a month so he can play in the IPL. A Pakistan Cricket Board tribunal accepted a plea from Shoaib that the ban should be suspended temporarily so that he can play in the Indian Premier League.

Shoaib had signed for the Kolkata Knight Riders before being struck off the IPL's roster. Justice Aftab Farrukh, who heads the tribunal, said the ban was delayed until the next hearing on June 4. "Since it will take time to dispose of Shoaib's regular appeal against the ban the tribunal felt that preventing him from playing in the league would have been an additional penalty on him," Farrukh said. "It would have been an additional penalty which has not even been prescribed by the disciplinary committee of the board which banned him from playing in or for Pakistan but not outside Pakistan." Shoaib was banned for five years by the PCB last month for several incidents of indiscipline and violating the conditions of a two-year probation. Reuters Localizaï¿½ï¿½o: Guidï¿½es, Trofa Posts: 3.906 County - Round-up: Scots stun Lancs Andrew Flintoff made just eight as Lancashire slumped to an embarrassing two-run Friends Provident Trophy defeat to Scotland The all-rounder, hoping to be named in the England side for the first Test against New Zealand which starts on Thursday week, once again failed with the bat after earlier impressing with the ball at Old Trafford.

Michael Vaughan's poor form at the crease also continued, the England captain making just 22 in his final innings before the Lord's Test as Yorkshire beat holders Durham by five wickets at Headingley. North Division leaders Lancashire, who crushed rock-bottom Scotland by eight wickets just over a week ago, appeared set for another comfortable victory after restricting their visitors to 155 for nine, Flintoff taking two for 18. But the home side crashed to 44 for seven and only came close to a dramatic victory thanks to Kyle Hogg's heroic 66 not out as they finished on 153 for nine. Yorkshire had captain Darren Gough and fellow bowlers Richard Pyrah and Adil Rashid to thank for their win over Durham. Former England seamer Gough claimed the wickets of current internationals Phil Mustard and Paul Collingwood, as well well as South African Neil McKenzie as the visitors were 185 all out in 45.3 overs. Pyrah boasted figures of three for 25, while Rashid weighed in with a brace.

Despite Vaughan falling cheaply, Yorkshire were never in any real danger of failing to reach their target, opener Andrew Gale top scoring with 68 and Anthony McGrath finishing unbeaten on 45 with more than 14 overs to spare. Steve Harmison was as typically expensive as he was destructive, finishing with three for 58. Captain Chris Adams - 38 this week - hit a thrilling unbeaten century as Sussex claimed their first victory in the South East Division. Adams' 109 not out, off just 103 balls, sealed a seven-wicket victory over Middlesex, who had set their opponents a daunting 274 to win at Hove. On a batting-friendly wicket Andrew Strauss scored just 26 for Middlesex, while fellow England hopeful Owais Shah struck 68. For Sussex, wicketkeeper Matt Prior did his bid for an international recall no harm with 79. Another discarded England keeper, Geraint Jones, gave selectors a nudge as he hit 86 in Kent's 90-run win over Surrey at The Oval.

Jones' 88-ball knock helped to propel Kent to 282 for seven off 50 overs, with Surrey then bowled out for 192. Irishman Niall O'Brien returned to haunt his World Cup team-mates with a career-best one-day score as Northamptonshire defeated Ireland by eight wickets in the Midlands Division at Wantage Road. O'Brien hit 75 and fellow opener Stephen Peters, who made 90 against Nottinghamshire on Sunday, smashed an unbeaten 103 off 129 balls as the hosts surpassed their 204-run target inside 43 overs. England spinner Monty Panesar took three for 36 for Northants. Leicestershire moved to the top of the table with a 45-run victory over Warwickshire after a delayed start at Edgbaston. The visitors clubbed 148 for six off their 23 overs when play got under way following rain. Warwickshire were unable to match the testing run rate and were 103 all out with only seven balls remaining.

Former England batsman Vikram Solanki smashed five sixes in an unbeaten 88 as Worcestershire won a thrilling rain-reduced match against Glamorgan by seven wickets. Having lost their opening south west division match, the Royals were set a tough 186 to win in 28 overs at New Road. But Solanki guided them home with nine balls to spare. Sporting Life / Eurosport Localizaï¿½ï¿½o: Guidï¿½es, Trofa Posts: 3.906 Spurious Stats: Longest ducks What is the most balls faced in a one-day international for a duck? Is it 31 by Runako Morton in 2006? What about in Test cricket? Runako Morton of West Indies did manage a 31-ball duck in the final of the DLF Cup against Australia in Kuala Lumpur in September 2006. He beat (if that's the right word) the record of another West Indian, Phil Simmons, whose duck against New Zealand in Margao in 1994-95 occupied 23 balls.

The Test record is 77 balls (101 minutes) by New Zealand's Geoff Allott against South Africa in Auckland in 1998-99. Can you tell me who were the non-strikers when Yuvraj, Gibbs, Shastri and Sir Sobers were busy hitting six sixes in an over? I guess they must have had the best seats in the house! The four lucky bystanders were Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who watched Yuvraj Singh smash Stuart Broad for six sixes during last year's World Twenty20 match in Durban; Jacques Kallis, who was at the other end when Herschelle Gibbs did his stuff against Holland's Daan van Bunge in Basseterre in last year's World Cup; the Indian Test opener Ghulam Parkar, who was at the other end when his Bombay team-mate Ravi Shastri hit Baroda's Tilak Raj for 36 in an over in Bombay; and finally the Nottinghamshire batsman at the other end when Garry Sobers launched Glamorgan's Malcolm Nash for six sixes in Swansea in 1968 was John Parkin.

My Dad says that Australia once selected a wicketkeeper who'd never kept wicket before - is this true? It is true, although the man in question didn't actually keep wicket in a Test. The player was Ken Burn, from Tasmania, who was chosen for the 1890 Australian tour as a wicketkeeper, and it wasn't until the team had set off on their voyage from Adelaide to England that he revealed that he hadn't actually kept wicket in his life. Although he had a modest tour with the bat - scoring 344 runs at 10.43 in 21 matches - Burn did play in both the Tests as a batsman. He scored 0 and 19 at Lord's (going in at No. 10 and 11), and 7 and 15 at The Oval. That was his lot in Test cricket, although he did better with the bat for his state, scoring two first-class centuries for them - the second as late as 1907-08, when he was 45 and scored 112 against that year's England tourists in Hobart. Who has played in the most World Cup tournaments?

Javed Miandad of Pakistan leads the way here: he played in the first six World Cups, from 1975 (when he was just 18) to 1995-96. Eight others have played in five tournaments: Imran Khan (1975 to 1991-92), Arjuna Ranatunga (1983 to 1999), Wasim Akram (1987-88 to 2002-03), Aravinda de Silva (1987-88 to 2002-03), Sachin Tendulkar (1991-92 to 2006-07), Inzamam-ul-Haq (1991-92 to 2006-07), Brian Lara and Sanath Jayasuriya (1991-92 to 2006-07). So Sir Geoffrey never hit a six in a one-day international. Did he ever manage one in a Test? Geoff Boycott actually hit eight sixes in Tests.

He even managed one in his 246 not out against India at Headingley in 1967, after which he was famously dropped for slow scoring. Four of Boycott's sixes came in 1973 - including three in the same game against New Zealand at Lord's - but after getting out hooking several times that season, notably against the West Indian fast bowlers, he cut out the stroke, which is probably why he didn't hit any more over the boundary. Cricinfo / Eurosport Localizaï¿½ï¿½o: Guidï¿½es, Trofa Posts: 3.906 Bopara turns down IPL offer England all-rounder Ravi Bopara has turned down a lucrative offer to play in the Indian Premier League in a bid to cement his place in the national side. Hampshire skipper Dimitri Mascarenhas is currently England's only representative in the big-money Twenty20 competition and, although the event currently clashes with the county season, established stars like Kevin Pietersen and Ryan Sidebottom have declared their interest in participating in future editions.

Unlike them, Bopara is not centrally contracted to the ECB and would be free to pursue a contract with one of the eight IPL franchises if an agreement was reached with his county, Essex. But he has turned down a substantial six-figure contract from an unnamed side in favour of remaining with the Division Two outfit, where he has enjoyed a prolific start to the season. "Of course when figures like these are put in front of you it is tempting, but my goal is to play regularly for England so I am confident that if I continue to score runs and take wickets for Essex then I will hopefully play for England this summer and for many years to come," he said. "If I do this, and with the current talk of new competitions and one off matches to sit alongside the IPL, then I am sure there will be plenty of opportunities to enjoy the financial benefits in years to come." Bopara has scored 341 runs in three County Championship innings and also tops the team's bowling averages, with six wickets at an average of 18. That has raised hopes of furthering his international ambitions this summer after a winter which saw him make his Test debut in Sri Lanka before being discarded for the New Zealand leg of the tour after three Tests.

The 23-year-old cricketer is already seen as a key part of the one-day set-up and his decision to remain in England rather than give into the temptation of a bumper pay day for four weeks work on the sub-continent is sure to go down well with the ECB. They have already sought to lessen the chances of defection to India through talks with Texan billionaire Sir Allen Stanford over a series of one-off challenge matches against a West Indies XI as well as opening negotiations over the possibility of a rival English Premier League. Sporting Life / Eurosport Localizaï¿½ï¿½o: Guidï¿½es, Trofa Posts: 3.906 Spurious Stats: Longest ducks What is the most balls faced in a one-day international for a duck? Is it 31 by Runako Morton in 2006? What about in Test cricket? Runako Morton of West Indies did manage a 31-ball duck in the final of the DLF Cup against Australia in Kuala Lumpur in September 2006.

He beat (if that's the right word) the record of another West Indian, Phil Simmons, whose duck against New Zealand in Margao in 1994-95 occupied 23 balls. The Test record is 77 balls (101 minutes) by New Zealand's Geoff Allott against South Africa in Auckland in 1998-99. Can you tell me who were the non-strikers when Yuvraj, Gibbs, Shastri and Sir Sobers were busy hitting six sixes in an over? I guess they must have had the best seats in the house!

The four lucky bystanders were Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who watched Yuvraj Singh smash Stuart Broad for six sixes during last year's World Twenty20 match in Durban; Jacques Kallis, who was at the other end when Herschelle Gibbs did his stuff against Holland's Daan van Bunge in Basseterre in last year's World Cup; the Indian Test opener Ghulam Parkar, who was at the other end when his Bombay team-mate Ravi Shastri hit Baroda's Tilak Raj for 36 in an over in Bombay; and finally the Nottinghamshire batsman at the other end when Garry Sobers launched Glamorgan's Malcolm Nash for six sixes in Swansea in 1968 was John Parkin. My Dad says that Australia once selected a wicketkeeper who'd never kept wicket before - is this true? It is true, although the man in question didn't actually keep wicket in a Test.

The player was Ken Burn, from Tasmania, who was chosen for the 1890 Australian tour as a wicketkeeper, and it wasn't until the team had set off on their voyage from Adelaide to England that he revealed that he hadn't actually kept wicket in his life. Although he had a modest tour with the bat - scoring 344 runs at 10.43 in 21 matches - Burn did play in both the Tests as a batsman. He scored 0 and 19 at Lord's (going in at No. 10 and 11), and 7 and 15 at The Oval. That was his lot in Test cricket, although he did better with the bat for his state, scoring two first-class centuries for them - the second as late as 1907-08, when he was 45 and scored 112 against that year's England tourists in Hobart. Who has played in the most World Cup tournaments? Javed Miandad of Pakistan leads the way here: he played in the first six World Cups, from 1975 (when he was just 18) to 1995-96.

Eight others have played in five tournaments: Imran Khan (1975 to 1991-92), Arjuna Ranatunga (1983 to 1999), Wasim Akram (1987-88 to 2002-03), Aravinda de Silva (1987-88 to 2002-03), Sachin Tendulkar (1991-92 to 2006-07), Inzamam-ul-Haq (1991-92 to 2006-07), Brian Lara and Sanath Jayasuriya (1991-92 to 2006-07). So Sir Geoffrey never hit a six in a one-day international. Did he ever manage one in a Test? Geoff Boycott actually hit eight sixes in Tests. He even managed one in his 246 not out against India at Headingley in 1967, after which he was famously dropped for slow scoring.

Four of Boycott's sixes came in 1973 - including three in the same game against New Zealand at Lord's - but after getting out hooking several times that season, notably against the West Indian fast bowlers, he cut out the stroke, which is probably why he didn't hit any more over the boundary. Cricinfo / Eurosport Localizaï¿½ï¿½o: Guidï¿½es, Trofa Posts: 3.906 King-killer Gilchrist fires Chargers The Chennai Super Kings slumped to their third defeat on the bounce as an Adam Gilchrist-inspired Deccan Chargers eased to a seven-wicket win in their Indian Premier League encounter. The hosts set the Chargers a victory target of 145 from their 20 overs but that total looked under threat right from the start of the visitors' reply as opener Gilchrist set about the Chennai attack with some sumptuous stroke play. The former Australia international reached 54 in just 36 balls to lay the groundwork for the win, which was clinched thanks to Scott Styris' unbeaten 36 and Shahid Afridi's quickfire 20 not out.

The victory for the Chargers is only their second of the competition, and lifts them from the foot of the IPL standings. The hosts' innings never truly fired into life, with the wickets of their top three batsmen falling for just 33 runs. Parthiv Patel (four), Stephen Fleming (14) and Srikkanth Anirudha (one) offered little to concern the Chargers' attack, although Suresh Raina's 32 from 21 deliveries did offer some resistance for a period. After Subramaniam Badrinath was dismissed for a four-ball duck, Raina paired with Mahendra Singh Dhoni for a fifth-wicket stand of 39 that took the Super Kings towards 100. Raina departed to a soft dismissal when he gifted Rohit Sharma an easy catch at extra cover off Sanjay Bangar, while new man Albie Morkel combined with Dhoni for just four runs before the skipper fell for 23 when a mis-timed sweep from Pragyan Ojha's delivery found Afridi at gully.

Morkel and Joginder Sharma took the total to 124 for six before the latter was clean bowled by RP Singh, and although no further wickets fell, Morkel (29 not out) and Manpreet Gony (19 not out) could not crack the 150-run barrier in the overs that remained. The Chargers made a solid start to their reply, Gilchrist and Herschelle Gibbs pairing for 24 runs before the South African was caught and bowled by Gony. Gilchrist posted his fifty in 34 balls including six fours and two sixes but his knock was ended a short time later when Badrinath did well to hold on at backward point when the Australian had attempted to power Morkel's delivery away for a boundary. Styris picked up where Gilchrist left off, hitting three fours and a six on his way to a brisk 36, while the loss of Rohit Sharma (23) did not derail the visitors as Afridi stepped in with 20 runs in just six deliveries to seal the win with two overs to spare.

Sporting Life / Eurosport Localizaï¿½ï¿½o: Guidï¿½es, Trofa Posts: 3.906 ICC considers Test match league The International Cricket Council is to consider a Test match league or periodic play-off between the world's top two sides to maintain the five-day game as the sport's pinnacle. The ICC's cricket committee, chaired by former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, recommended in Dubai that there was a need to identify a balance between tests, one-day internationals and the increasingly popular Twenty/20 formats. The committee also agreed on a proposed set of playing conditions for the trialing of an umpires' decision review system which is to be tested during a test series this year. The ICC Board could ratify the plans on June 29. Reuters Localizaï¿½ï¿½o: Guidï¿½es, Trofa Posts: 3.906 Flintoff cleared by loophole England cricketer Andrew Flintoff has been acquitted of speeding because his prosecution notice was sent two days late.

The 30-year-old was captured on camera driving at 87 mph in a 50 mph zone, but his lawyer, Nick Freeman - known as Mr Loophole - said the prosecution had not followed the proper rules. On Tuesday, at Liverpool Magistrates' Court, the Lancashire star was told that the Crown would offer no evidence. The father-of-three was allegedly speeding in a temporary 50 mph zone on the M62 near Huyton, Liverpool, on 1 July 2007. But speaking outside court, Mr Freeman said: "It is fundamental in any speeding case that the notice is sent and received within 14 days." But the document only arrived on July 19. "It happens a lot if people care to look at it," said Mr Freeman. The controversial player, whose drunken antics have been widely reported, was driving someone else's car when it was captured on film. The owner who received the notice, an unidentified woman from Bicester, attended court to give evidence but was not needed. Flintoff, dressed in a grey suit and brown shoes, spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth.

He declined to speak when he left court, but Mr Freeman said: "He is very relieved to have the matter disposed of. "It happened last July and now he can concentrate on his cricket." The crown had wanted to produce "bad character" evidence against Flintoff, said Sharon Bourne, prosecuting. But the hearing, which had been listed for trial, was dealt with quickly by Deputy District Judge Fiona Barrie, after Miss Bourne offered no evidence. "There were lots of other issues too but we don't need to go into those," said Mr Freeman as he left court. Sporting Life / Eurosport Localizaï¿½ï¿½o: Guidï¿½es, Trofa Posts: 3.906 Mahmood also rejected IPL Sajid Mahmood has become the latest England player to reveal he has rejected offers to join the Indian Premier League. The Lancashire seamer's admission came less than a day after Essex all-rounder Ravi Bopara confirmed he had turned down a lucrative six-figure deal to play in the Twenty20 competition as he feared jeopardising his future international prospects. Mahmood, 26, has not played for his country for more than a year.

He is hoping for a recall but hinted he could be tempted by the IPL if he continues to be ignored. "A lot of people on the circuit are saying the IPL is the way forward," Mahmood told the BBC. "My aim is and always has been to play for England, but if you're not getting in the side, the IPL is a big carrot." England players who decide to join the IPL risk not being picked at present. "I've had offers to join the IPL but I'm desperate to work my way back into the England side," he added. "That's the reason why I got into cricket in the first place and the desire is still burning brightly. "I'm only 26. I've got a lot of years ahead of me in the game and it would be great to spend those years representing my country and taking wickets. "However, if things don't work out in that regard, the IPL is a massive draw. There is a hell of a lot of money on offer out there and a cricketer's career is a short one. "There's not much I or anyone can really do at the moment, though, with the way things are.

"My aim is by the end of this year, three-quarters into the season, to be back in the England side. If not then I can start having a chat and see about looking at my options." Hampshire skipper Dimitri Mascarenhas is England's only current representative in the IPL, but established stars like Kevin Pietersen and Ryan Sidebottom have also declared their interest in participating in future. Mahmood believes there is little reason why England's stars cannot enjoy the "best of both worlds". "It is only three or four weeks out of the season," he said. "If players can go out there, benefit financially as well as test themselves against the top players in the world, they can come back better for it. "It's a chance to impress on a big stage against quality players and that's something that could impress the ECB and selectors." In the meantime, the Lancashire ace is keen to prove his form and fitness after six months out of the game. "I had a complete break from the game and it has benefited me immensely," he said. "I feel I am physically and mentally a better cricketer.

"I will always have pace but now I am adding consistency and accuracy to my game and my aim this summer is to get overs under my belt, take loads of wickets, and force my way back into the selectors' thoughts. "I'm confident that I can do that. There's a lot of competition in the pace bowling department but, at my best, I'm not far away at all." Sporting Life / Eurosport

Question: Although he started and ended his career with Yorkshire, for which other county did Darren Gough play cricket from 2003-07?
Answer: ESSEX