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Cricket

Retiring Gough left out of Yorkshire squad

22/09/2008

Darren Gough's career as a professional cricketer is effectively over after Yorkshire dropped the retiring fast bowler from their squad to play Sussex this week.

The former England international announced he would be stepping back from playing at the end of the season.

Yorkshire's selection, which is thought to be due to fatigue on Gough's part, has forced him to call time on his career one match before the end of the season.

This means his outing for the White Roses against Somerset at Scarborough over the weekend was his final farewell to the game in a playing capacity.

After that match, Gough told the media: "I have given everything there, three spells of putting my body to the limit.

"I will see how I rock up on Monday morning and how the other bowlers are. I wanted to go out in style and that proved to me I am ready to retire. I am absolutely shattered now.

"I bowled as quick as I have for a long, long time in that first spell."

Gough's final wicket of his professional career turned out to be former Australian international opener Justin Langer.

And the Yorkshireman said he was pleased to be bowing out after an auspicious career by claiming such a prestigious scalp.

"When I look back I'm glad my last wicket was Justin Langer," he continued.

"I've had some great battles against him and it's nice to know my last wicket in Yorkshire was someone as good as him."

Langer paid tribute to Gough, saying his effort on his final day as a professional bowler was "absolutely monumental".

"He has been a great warrior, he showed in the morning why he is such a well loved part of England society," the Australian explained.

"He ran in and it was like I was batting against him in an Ashes Test match and that just showed what a huge heart he has got and why he is so well-loved in this country."