Returning hero Gough to lead new era
So it's time again to eulogise over Darren Gough. I've done it often enough. Either on or off the field I've not a bad word for him. Honesty and loyalty are just two of his attributes which I acknowledge. I do wish he would stop talking of himself in the third person but that is being picky.
So if a Yorkshire supporter I would welcome his return - but as captain? Now that is a different thing. Doubtful, very doubtful or at least I thought it was. Whether or not Yorkshire knew what they were doing, they may have made a right move at last. It could be inspired.
Yorkshire is a fractured club. If Gough's return signals the change of heart from Anthony McGrath to remain and to also be vice-captain, Martyn Moxon is then appointed Director of Cricket as well then it's your perfect Friends Reunited. A team which will act as a cohesive force.
As long as they hold together Yorkshire should benifit. It may exist at other clubs but a long standing poison running through Yorkshire is a blame culture which undermines any progress made by those in charge.
If Gough can put a stop to that his first job will be done. Headingley can be a sieve of information and self-preservation. Competitive environments lead to that I suppose, but at Yorkshire it can be a destructive force.
On the day Dazzler returns, no mention or photograph appears on the front page of the Yorkshire Post. Instead something profound an advert for a Dales hotel proudly boasting 'A Yorkshire Inn run by Yorkshire Folk,' that's the way they like it round here or so it's thought.
They believe that at Headingley and forget for many years it was part of their downfall. Talent wasted by lack of application and fear of losing amongst other things. The important difference here is Gough and Moxon have been away and come back with new ideas. Fresh thinking for a hard job.
Gough himself admits he is unlikely to be fit enough to play in all matches but firmly believes his role can be as effective from the dressing room. Colin Graves, the chairman is like-minded and doesn't think it's a risk at all.
Graves is also open in his belief that Yorkshire cricket needs Yorkshire people becuase they bring with them a passion. A winning professional team in any sport needs more than that in the modern era but with Geoffrey Boycott brought on board last year it shows which direction the club is going in.
Darren Gough always has been and always will be one of my sporting heroes. From about 4/5 i was pratically (and thankfully) forced to be the mascot at my dad's cricket team down in Valentines Park, Ilford. So its pretty much 2 say that i spent alot of my time watching cricket as a kid.
My favourite Cricketer growing up was Goughie, w/out a shadow of a doubt with Warne (a close second).
The thing that we loved all about Goughie was that he was a gr8 character and a people's cricketer, some1 who always gave his all, never less than 110% and a player who i can't seem to recall ever letting England down.
Its a shame that when he was in his prime he wasn't supported by a good enough bowling attack as the likes of Caddick, Cork and Mullally were just far 2 inconsistant.
Anyway back 2 Goughie, i was thrilled when Essex signed him in 2004, as it would give me the chance of meeting my hero as i would go to about 3/4 Essex games a season.
Of the games that i went 2 in his first season he wasn't playing or @ the ground for some reasons.
Thankfully i got the chance 2 meet him in 2005 when i saw the tour game vs Australia @ Chelmsford, Goughie to my suprise wasn't playing but he was there wiv his kids having a net and watching from the pavillion and thankfully during one of the intervals i got a chance to get his autograph and have my photo taken. I was 17 at the time and was literally over the moon that id met my hero, i said to him "Goughie, i cant tell you how pleased i am to have met u, u were my hero growing up" and Goughie said with a glint in his eye "well i wish i cud say the same about u m8 but i cant" Lol
Anyway its sad that he's leaving Essex because he's been a gr8 signing for his 3yrs and has helped us win 2 1-day trophies in 2yrs and aside from his personal performances he has been an inspiration in the dressing room 2 the young players like Bopara, Cook, Foster and Chopra.
But saying that he derserves to go back to his home county and to captain them, its too good a decision to turn down. I hope for him that he can do a good job up there because Yorkshire have had all sorts of problems last couple of years and they love their cricket up there. He'll be a gr8 captain, not sure if he knows his tatics right but he will inspire the other players and is a gr8 team player which is what Yorkshire need.
Anyway Good Luck Goughie, Hope It Works Out 4 U - All The Best
Complain about this postGutted he's left the mighty Essex, but best of luck to him. Can't blame him for returning home.
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Picky...and odd. I presume you mean the third person?
Complain about this postI have been amazed by the hostility to this signing being shown by some Yorkshire fans on the 606 site. Having saved themselves from relegation last season only because Notts fell apart in their last two games when they only needed half a dozen points to push Yorkshire down, the club has had an off-season from hell. They are about to start pre-season training but, up to now, have not been able to attract a captain, a coach or even get key players to stay. The situation has got so bad that it's comic. Last month you wouldn't have found many volunteers to captain Yorkshire in a team of VCs.
Darren Gough is undoubtedly a short-term, probably even part-time appointment (mind you, what side was it that brought a 50 year old Ray Illingworth out of retirement to captain them?), but he is an inspiring figure who breathes passion and actually wants the job of captain that two other players have turned down very publicly. Darren Gough should at least ensure that the media turns its attention for a while from off-field bickering to on-field action. That alone may allow the team to regroup a little and get some momentum. You never know, one or two early season wins and they may even manage a safe middle-table position rather than being the bankers for the wooden spoon, as they appeared to be just a couple of weeks ago. Mind you, if things go badly over the first half of the season the good will towards the new captain will disappear quickly and the press will turn on him.
Complain about this postGet yer pads on Geoffrey!
Complain about this postIsn't it time the over-the-hill fool retired.
Complain about this postI guess this will be the end of the line for Yorkshire's fine tradition of captaincy.
welcome back i hope all goes well you should have gone to the world cup
Complain about this postHello scribbler. Thank you for the correction. It is being put right. That will teach me.
Kevin.
Complain about this postMark Kidger,
There is some validity in what you say but I must take you to task on Yorkshire surviving courtesy of Notts failings. One of Notts failings was being annhililated by Yorkshire in a relegation match at the end of the season - they bottled it and lost to a better team. Thats how it works isn't it? Best team stays up - loser goes down?
I wished Darren Gough well when he left Yorkshire - he has never let us down - and Im delighted he's coming back.
Watch out for Lawson and Rashid making seasoned professionals blush this year.
NB
Complain about this postI thought Goughie moved to Essex to be nearer to his children. Have they been offered the vice-captaincy?
Complain about this postAnt - Yorkshire's 'fine line of captaincy'?
You mean 'quitters'. You won't see Darren Gough quit. If there's one thing you can say about Gough, and sometimes it's a strength, sometimes a flaw, is that he never knows when he's beaten.
Gough may not be a tactical genius, but how many tactical geniuses are plying their trade in county cricket? He'll be a breath of fresh air, and we know he won't take any nonsense because they've tried it before and he left.
Best of luck to him, I say.
Complain about this postI am sorry Darren, you need to retire. Stop clinging on to your past glory. You are obviously not good enough to be in international cricket. Please stop playing backyard cricket AKA county cricket to live your past glory.
Please hang your jersey, its time to close.
Complain about this postNorman, quite true about the win, but even so, in the last round of matches Notts had only to put in a half way decent performance to stay up (even a reasonable defeat would have saved them), having just previously annihilated Middlesex in a must-win match for both teams and seemingkly seen themselves safe.
I was listening to the whole Middlesex-Notts game on Radio London (just like I listened to what little there was of the end of season Middlesex-Yorkshire game). It was a total mismatch from start to finish.
The points table says that Yorkshire got half a point more over the season. Did that make them clearly the better of the two sides? You're right. Notts bottled it big time. It suggests that over 16 matches they were not clearly the lesser side of the two sides, rather that they were the lesser only in those critical last two games, no?
Yorkshire are to be praised for having played Lawson and Rashid together in so many games, but they were extremely lucky to escape relegation that way.
Complain about this postI have travelled the world for many years, since i was a young man in his late teens, i know the feelings that Goughie has for his place of birth, i am sure with such Yorkshire heros at the helm Yorkshire cricke will gain strength and be the force it was, good luck to Goughie - a Yorkie going home !
Complain about this postAs an Essex fan and regular at the County Ground, it's a shame that Darren has decided not to renew his contract with us. His influence has been a key part of our one-day success over the past 3 years.
From Goughy's view though, it was a no-brainer. The chance to return home and captain his home county was too good to turn down, and I think everyone appreciates that fact.
Thanks and the best of luck.
Complain about this postMK
We're in agreement then - Notts bottled it - lost to a better team.
I've nothing against Notts - far from it - Harold Larwood is in my top ten.
I kind of take your point though MK - over the first two thirds of the season Yorkshire were awful and Notts were better. But the last four games we were a much better team than Notts. On their end of season form they deserved to go down.
On our first two thirds of the season form WE deserved to go down. But we turned it around - and finished a better team than Notts (who I hope come straight back).
Anyhow - after a winter from hell all of a sudden Yorkshire's squad is looking alarmingly strong.
With Younis Khan's signing we may (long overdue) be tapping into the Tyke-Pakistani community and if that kicks off the dam may burst and we will be unstoppable.
Ahem.
Complain about this postI am a huge Darren Gough fan, and I hope he does very well back at Yorkshire, and quietens those frustrating critics.
Complain about this postI cannot understand why some people are still referring to last seasons results and performances. We were rubbish, everyone knows it, the infrastructure at the club is terrible, hence the high profile departures this winter following Chris Adams U-Turn (Why did YCCC never make him sign a contract?).
Gough may be over hill, he may still have a lot to offer. Either way, it is time to start supporting the team and the club as a whole. The murmers of discontent will do nothing to maintain the confidence of the players fighting for Yorkshire's future next year....
Complain about this postinspired
we need someone to motivate, lead from the front, remind everyone of the glory days and
work the team back to more glory.
goughie's enthausism is catching and immediately it was announced I felt a buzz and cannot wait for the new season.
Complain about this postGood on yer Goughie. Now show 'em what Yorkshire is all about.
Complain about this postGlen.
It will be good to see Darren back in the broad acres and I wish him all the best.
Complain about this postAs someone who was at Lords in 1989 when he made his debut for Yorkshire and at the SCG in 1995 when England had taken over as his driving force I look forwarded to seeing the return of a focused individual to his much publicised first love.
What a squad boasting the captains of England, Pakistan, England U-19's and two ex-Yorkshire captains, but without the on field leadership of that other Darren, Mr Lehmann.
Interesting times ahead I suspect.
Nice one Dazzler! Just what Yorkshire needed.
Complain about this postThe Headlingly Taps is already preparing themselves for what could be their biggest year ever!
Bring on the booze and some wickets (in that order!)
Loyalty!!!!! Mmmmn interesting that one. Never done a thing for Yorkshire.
Complain about this postI would rather have someone who really loved Yorkshire back, for example Chris Silverwood. Gough was incredibly rude to his Yorkshire supporters, while Chris went out of his way to the fans. I remember being stranded in Bristol after a game and he drove myself and our mates all the way back to Leeds, he even bought us some travel sweets at a service station. Gough would never waist a precious second chatting to his fans, and I like many who know the truth will be upset that this arrogant man is back.
Complain about this postDazzler should have been given a chance,one last shot at glory but thanks to a certain Mr.Gravney, we have lost on an experience of a lifetime.
Anyway Goughie will always remain in our hearts and with Tykes I hope:-)
Complain about this postGood on Goughie.
Best of luck from an Aussie who loved watching you play in the big time.
a champion some would say good enough to be an aussie.
;-)
Complain about this postPleased to see him back. He was a scarce source of pride in some seriously barren YCCC years, although that did mean he was off with MCC and not playing for us much!
The really big question though is whether he can take McGrath out, get him lathered and press gang him into playing again (although getting him to sign something hasn't worked till now).
Come on Anthony! I mean, Lancashire? Really? Come back and we'll pretend it never happened.
Oh, and ring Ryan Sidebottom up too.
Complain about this postCompletely agree with 'R' - As a cricket fan who went to stacks of 1 day away games all over the country with Yorkshire I can coroborate the comment mad by 'R'. At a Derbyshire game the Yorkshire cricketers came over with gifts such as Twix, Drifters, Walkers Crisps etc. and Darren Gough threw a penny sweet (a white mouse) at us which landed in a mates beer. Craig White offered to buy us all a pint, Silverwood bought us all a Feast icecream but no apology made by Gough for throwing the sweet at us - appalling. Bring back HARTLEY.......
Complain about this postThis story doesnt actually surprise me! Silvers and Chalky were so grateful to the Yorkshire fans. Richard Stemp would ofter sit with us and have a crafty sipp of our pints on the away days. Peter Harly owes me a strawberry sandwich! Gough was never one to mix with the fans, I heard a rumour that he was a bit bitter about the stardom Daren 'God' Lehmann got and such forth forced a move to Essex....just a rumour form an inside source. Lets see if he has Yorkshires best intrests at heart and isnt after a new chapter in his 'My life' book!
Complain about this post"Honesty and loyalty are just two of his attributes which I acknowledge."
hmmm, could be seen differently from an essex perspective! :D
can't blame him for heading home, just frustrated that it looks like we are heading into the new season with merv westfield and tony palladino as our quick bowlers, which is a bit of a worry.
tbh, it might be for the best - what with irani, the flower brothers & andy bichel, we were running the risk of having a rapidly aging and injury prone team. if gough moving back to essex sees us develop any of our young quicks, then it is a good thing. still think his departure might cost us the chance of going up int he 4 day game though, which is annnoying.
good luck goughy, just hope you choke when you meet essex! :D
Complain about this postGreat move, but he will need to perform on the field enough times to lead by example.
Complain about this postGood comments and Iecho the sentiment about Gough but how irritating that Adam uses lazy textspeak in his email! The word "m8" was a classic!
Complain about this postGood comments and Iecho the sentiment about Gough but how irritating that Adam uses lazy textspeak in his email! The word "m8" was a classic!
Complain about this postAs usual, very little on Kenya on the BBC pages. And then you guys profess to be shocked when Kenya win. Even during the recent World Cricket League in Nairobi - which Kenya won - there was more coverage of Scotland than of Kenya.
They might be coming off a good bend against Australia, but England are definitely beatable - and if there is a team able to do it, Kenya is it. And then you really will have something to blog about!
Complain about this postGood comments and Iecho the sentiment about Gough but how irritating that Adam uses lazy textspeak in his email! The word "m8" was a classic!
Complain about this postI think you should send the cricket match scores to people who log in for news. you can ask them to post a comment and then get their e-mail adress. i have very low connection to the internet and can only acess my mail at times and i am burning to see the cricket match scores. i think e-mailing the scores are much better!!!
Complain about this postI am a huge Gough fan, in his day his enthusiasm and commitment were second to none, sadly though these days are far too distant to provide an upturn in Gods own county cricketing fortunes.
As a Barnsley lad mi sen, i wish him all the best and hope that come this summer i will be sending another e-mail saying that Darren must postpone his dancing career for another series!!
UP THE TYKES !!!!!
Complain about this postI guess that Gough was the best Yorks were likely to achieve this close to the beginning of the new season and, if reports are correct, the addition of Moxon will probably do more help than harm.
However, this does nothing to break the insular culture that has been the downfall of the club on so many occasions over the past 20 years. Even Gough has his enemies and few tears were shead in some quarters on his departure.
If things don't start off well, which is likely as they are probably candidates for relegation along with Durham and Worcs, it could be another season of backbiting and recriminations.
Complain about this postcould have sworn gough was bowling for bermuda today..
Complain about this postHello
Complain about this postYES what Yorkshire needs is an injection of Yorkshire folk at the very heart of the club, this is vital. Things are moving in the right direction if only we could add Brian Close or Ray Illingworth to the mix we could really progress. Forget their age their hearts are still bigger than most in this cause.
Kind Regards
L.G.
I had the right to sublet, but I explained to her that my payments to her were not contingent on occupancy
Complain about this postGreat news
With a management like that in place who are all focused on a common goal Yorkshire is bound to benefit.
I'm a supporter again!!!!!
Richard from Yorkshire and Thailand
Complain about this postWhen I read goughie's quote re: when he asked 7 lads in the dressing room how many petals were on the white rose on their yorkshire cricket jersey - 1 knew the answer (11 btw, one for each member of the team) - it reaffirmed my belief he is the right man for the job.
P2 W2 D0 L0
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