by Kartik Kannan
Sometimes, we remember a cricketer as iconic, only if he gets paid obscenely in endorsements, or scores the most runs, or has occupied the top of some statistical pillar of interest to the media.
One of the rare occasions when we remember a cricketer for his commitment on the cricket field is the case of Darren Gough, who is the 9th highest wicket taker for England in Test match Cricket. It wasn’t his skiddy fast bowling, or his record that he is England’s highest ODI wicket taker, but the fact tha he carried a nation’s hopes and earned the respect of some of the mos admired cricketers when he bid adieu to cricket, earlier this week.
Darren Gough, in cricketing circles is regarded as one of the most influential cricketers after Ian Botham, even though he may have not been on top of the heap when it came to statistics. Gough, had a lion’s heart, and wore his heart on his sleeve while playing cricket. A cricketer’s popularity amongst peers comes from the unrelentless approach at getting better and attacking the opposition.
Darren Gough came of age in the ashes series of 1994-95, where he bowled his heart out against the Aussies, despite the fact that England were getting clobbered. They say, for a clap, it requires two hands, and Gough, played a vital support role in that series in the way he kept coming at the Australians with 20 wickets in the first three tests. It included a devastating spell of 6/49 against the Aussies at Sydney which opened up an otherwise dead series. The series had him play a role in three tests only, as he was done in by an injury, but more importantly paved the way for him to lead the England attack in time to come.
Gough, even though was a tough competitor, was never inclined towards using glares and sledging to earn him wickets. He made the ball talk, with his hardwork compensating for the lack of height that a mean fast bowler would otherwise have. Gough, some how found himself in the centre of the action, and could get the crowds behind him with a few smiles, some daredevilry in batting and some immaculate swing bowling, that he perfected as a ardent student of the game. He was one guy, who didn’t need statistics to evoke a chemistry with the audience, or the opposition.
Gough, would be remembered a lot for his slower deliveries that surprised many a batsman, as is action was such that, it was tough to read the ball coming out of the back of the hand, even as he went about his normal bowling action. Of course, Gough’s biggest asset was that he was the man, the captain loved throwing the ball to when England was bowling at the death. His Yorkers and low-swing trajectory was Engalnd’s answer to the Wasim and Waqars, before Harmison and Hoggard sliced Australia through their incisive swing bowling. Though he was not an allrounder in the leagues of a Flintoff or a Kallis, he did add a second dimension with his attacking batting. For a long time, when England was struggling to win, Darren Gough was the only oasis in the desert for England, but with time, if one doesn’t reinvent oneself, then the person is cornered and Gough’s case is something similar.
Gough after a high, in the 2000-01 tours of West Indies and Sri Lanka, came quite a cropper in 2003, when he looked like a snake without fangs. His bowling had lost that zip, and he became quite predictable. To add more salt to his wounds, His career was hampered by injury worries that occurred quite frequently, after 2003. Gough’s career was like a party that got over at 11 pm. He had his honeymoon period under Mike Atherton and Alec Stewart from 1997-2001, but somehow never seemed to be at his peak when England started performing well under Hussain and Duncan Fletcher. Gough, slowly faded into oblivion with lesser chances coming his way after bowlers like Cork, Harmison and Hoggard stepped into his shoes from 2003.
So what, if Gough isn’t potent anymore, the fact remains that he entertained and enlivened audiences, and was a man, who gave unflinching support to his captains, when he was called upon to do the honours. So as he steps aside from first class cricket, its time to salute the man, who gained iconic status without actually needing statistics to prop him up.
This article took a long time coming but even then the timing is pretty right. He is and would remain my favorite cricketer and I could only make an exception for Sachin. Gough was fabulous and the writer has described him correctly for possessing a Lion’s heart and wearing that on his sleeve in the ground. The bright smile could please thousands together at Lords even though England as a side was getting beaten on all fronts, people would just pay to watch that man smile. He was no mug as a performer for the way he would have batters swinging without effect in the death overs, with Goughffgy on song was pleasing. We would miss you on the field goughy but that smile would never be forgotten in the minds.
