TalkSPORT commentator Darren Gough has been appointed as England’s fast bowling consultant ahead of their Test series in New Zealand.
The former England seamer will join the squad in New Zealand after the third T20I, before working with the fast bowlers ahead of the two-match Test series.
“It is a tremendous honour to be asked by Chris Silverwood and Ashley Giles to be involved in this elite environment,” said Gough. “I very much look forward to working with all the bowlers and helping them improve. I will gain a lot from the experience and to work at this level will benefit me as a coach for the long-term. I can’t wait to get cracking.”
Gough has previously fulfilled similar but lesser roles with both the full England team – during the 2017 Test series against the West Indies – and the England U19 side prior to that.
Darren Gough has been appointed by England as fast bowling consultant ahead of their Test series against New Zealand in November.
Good choice? pic.twitter.com/ODmC9XIcXL
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) October 30, 2019
During the time he is due to spend with the team England will play the last two of their five-match T20I series, as well as a pair of multi-day warm-up matches at Cobham Oval in Whangarei. England’s new head coach Chris Silverwood is also looking forward to Gough joining up with the squad. “I’m delighted to have Darren on board,” he said. “I have known him a long time and his vast knowledge and experience at international level will drive our bowling unit forward leading into the two-match Test series. He will be excellent around the group and will settle in quickly.”
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In his time as a player Gough took 229 Test and 235 ODI wickets, becoming arguably England’s greatest exponent of reverse swing along the way. His retirement from Test cricket came in 2003, forced by a chronic knee injury, and his final ODI appearance came in 2006. He also gained fame outside of cricket after winning Strictly Come Dancing in 2005. Since retiring he has become a familiar voice to listeners of talkSPORT, a role he will continue during England’s tour of South Africa this winter.
