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Darren Gough: No cricket comeback - VIDEO EXCLUSIVE
CRICKET superstar Darren Gough has turned down bids to lure him back out of retirement, he revealed today.
The England and Yorkshire fast bowling legend, in an exclusive video interview with The Star, admitted: "I'm not even missing it."
VIDEO: Click on the green play button to watch our exclusive video interview with Darren Gough when he says he won't be making a cricket comeback.
It is the first season he hasn't played professionally since he began 20 years ago.
His decision against making a comeback will come as a blow to Yorkshire, Essex and other counties who he says have been trying to change his mind. Yorkshire wanted him to spearhead their Twenty20 Cup campaign.
But Gough, aged 38, says he is enjoying his new busy career as a TalkSport radio presenter, endorsing products, coaching school kids, playing golf, helping charities and, most important of all, spending more time with his family.
He's hoping his sons, who already play junior cricket for Buckinghamshire, will follow in his cricketing footsteps.
Yorkshire's Steve Oldham wants them to play for the white rose county, says Gough.
He was speaking ahead of what he hopes will be an annual Darren Gough Celebrity Golf Day, at Beauchief course, and dinner, at Sheffield City Hall Ballroom, for Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity, on Wednesday, June 24.
It is a rare opportunity for fans to meet the all-time great who agrees to very few dinner engagements - in this case, it's to help pal Darren Hayes, who battled testicular cancer.
Gough, who is also attracting interest these days as winner of Strictly Come Dancing, with Sheffield's Lilia Kopylova, said of his batting and bowling career: "There's no more cricket for me now professionally.
"You're more likely to see me play for Barnsley up front than playing for Yorkshire and England again.
"Yorkshire were interested in me going back for some Twenty20. I've also had Essex and a few other counties wanting me to play Pro 40.
"It doesn't feel odd so far that there's been no cricket for me this season. I've not really missed playing cricket, to be honest - having to turn up, put my bowling boots on, be sore the next day and staying in hotels day in, day out.
"I'm just enjoying my time as a retiree. I've got the Freedom Of London now. I haven't got the Freedom of Barnsley yet. Dickie Bird has, but I haven't!"
Gough was the spearhead of England's bowling attack through much of the 1990s. He was the first Englishman to take 200 wickets in one-day international cricket and he is still the country's all-time highest wicket-taker in one-day internationals with 235. He took a further 229 wickets in his 58 Test matches, making him England's ninth most successful wicket-taker of all time.
A knee complaint forced him to retire from the national side three years ago and he quit as county cricket last season.
For tickets for the charity golf day and dinner, sponsored by Barnsley-based SW Installations,, call Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity on Sheffield 0114-226 5370 or Darren Hayes on 07764 939 354.
For more details: www.wphcancercharity.org.uk
WATCH VIDEO: Darren Gough: Reunited with his ex wife Anna and enjoying family life.
WATCH VIDEO: Darren Gough backs pal's cancer fight - golf and dinner details.
Have you got a view? Comment below.
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Tuesday 07 February 2012
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