DARREN Gough has been hailed as one of England cricket's "last characters" on the day he bids for a Lord's swansong to end his career.
"Darren is one of the great characters, in fact, one of the last characters in the game really in English terms," said former England skipper Graham Gooch, now batting coach with Essex, Yorkshire's opponents in today's Friends Provident Trophy semi-final at Chelmsford. "He did a great job for us at Essex for three seasons before returning to Yorkshire in 2007, helping us twice win the Pro-40 League. He's a funny guy, likes a laugh and a joke but he encourages other players and is the sort of cricketer everyone wants in their side.
"He has talent but he doesn't take himself too seriously, lifts other players and that is what you want. You want a bit of a role model effect as well and you want the way they play their cricket to rub off on the young players."
The Barnsley-born bowler retires at the end of the season and fellow Yorkshire bowler Matthew Hoggard says the side is determined to give 'Gouhgy' a Lord's send-off to his career.
Kent await the winners after beating holders Durham by 83 runs in thge other semi-final.
READ MOREFootball headlines.Latest football gossip.All sport categories.The full article contains 230 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
