After having an average summer against the world champions Australia Darren Gough admitted to himself that he had not been at his best despite taking another 5 wicket haul in the triumphant win against the World Champions at Headingley. People had also commentated that he had been looking slightly jaded which i myself also thought. Consequently Darren has decided to pull out of the Winter tour to India. His reasons for doing this are mainly personal, which is understandable after almost seven years of touring in the winter and playing in the summer. Darren said that he had been at his eldest son Liams birthdays once out of the last 7 years and his son almost burst into tears when he heard that his daddy would be present at his 8th. Aw!
However the selectors have not reacted to this matter as sensitively as some people may have expected. In an almost unkindly manner they axed him from the one day teams travelling to Zimbabwe, India and New Zealand. Darren was also axed from the test team playing in New Zealand in the New Year, even though he stated he would be avalible to play. David Graveney said that players should not be allowed to pick and choose when they tour. Alec Stewart also made himself unavalible for the winter tour to India, consequently he was given the same fate as Gough.
Personally i don't think the selectors should have been so hard on Stewart and Gough especially after how long and hard they have worked for England, surely they should be allowed some time off. |
