Gough for a final hurrah?
The big question is who should England play if Simon Jones does not recover for the 5th test. Does England include Chris Tremlett, inexperienced yet promising? He is the logical next in succession in the squad. But a debut in the moest crucial test for England is years will be a huge gamble.
Collingwood? I dont think so as bowlers win test matches and going for him is not an option from any angle.
What about bringing back some old war horses? Caddick is injured. He is not an option either.
So I ask the question. Not why Darren Gough but why not Darren Gough. Yes he has retired from test cricket but I dont think he will refuse a request for a come back for the crucial test.
Gough has been England’s best strike bowler since Bob Willis and Ian Botham writes cricinfo. And its not that Gough is now old and thus cannot match up to international standard. He is still active as a one day international and despite recent ordinary performances in the tri series involving Australia and Bangladesh and the Natwest Challenge, has shown he still has it in him.
Certainly a better option than raw Tremlett. Gough’s performance in the one day series in South Africa is a point in case:
England in South Africa, 2004/05 [Series]
SA 6 58.1 241 11 3/52 2/14 21.90 4.14 31.7 0 0
One day and test cricket are different ball games but that certainly indicates Gough has not lost it all yet.
Tags: Ashes 2005, Australian Cricket, English Cricket.
