Gough ready to retire

Darren Gough will call time on his distinguished career at the end of the season

Former England fast bowler Darren Gough has confirmed he will retire at the end of the season.

The 37-year-old Yorkshire captain claimed before the season that this summer would be his last as a player, although he later revealed he would consider carrying on to help the development of the side.

However, he has now decided he will hang up his boots when the current campaign finishes in September.

Speaking after Yorkshire's washed out Friends Provident Trophy match against Derbyshire, Gough said: "I think it's time now.

"I'm 37, we've got some good youngsters coming through and I'll be 38 when I've retired. I think I've had a good innings and it's time to call it a day.

"I have always been confident that this would be my last season.

"Although Yorkshire had asked me if I would stay for another year, I thought the time was right for me to call it a day at the end of September.

"My decision to retire is nothing to do with the entertainment business; it is just the right time to bow out of first-class cricket.

"I will still enjoy playing the game and will probably turn out for a pub team or something like that."

Gough would be 38 heading into next season and admitted it was getting harder and harder for him to play four-day cricket regularly, but Yorkshire's long injury list of fast bowlers made it difficult for him to stand down.

"When Hoggy (Matthew Hoggard) gets back from his broken thumb it will make selection a little bit easier but at the moment we are short of experienced bowlers," he added.

"We have brought in two young pacemen over the past fortnight and there is plenty of talent at the club, but our youngsters are not yet quite ready for regular cricket.

"I have had a great career and have thoroughly enjoyed playing for Yorkshire. I will certainly be keeping in touch with all the lads and the friends I have made over the past 20 years or so."

Gough played 58 Tests and 159 one-day internationals in a 12-year England career which ended in 2006.

His haul of 229 Test wickets at an average of 28.39 puts him ninth on the list of all-time England bowlers, but his success on reality television show Celebrity Come Dancing late in his career brought him almost as much public acclaim.

Gough made his first-class debut in 1989 and, though he spent three seasons at Essex, he returned to Headingley last season to captain the side.