Gough in line for shock England recall

13 April 2012

Darren Gough is being lined up for a surprise England cricket recall despite his scathing criticism of the selectors.

A mere 24 hours after Gough complained of being badly treated, the panel chairman David Graveney talked up Gough's prospects of making the one-day series in the West Indies in April.

Graveney revealed that two pacemen are likely to be added to the 13-man group already chosen, and that Gough, 33, could be one of them. He said: 'You look at fitness and who might be available, and you don't have to go too far before you come to the name of Darren Gough.'

Graveney said he is prepared to overlook the embittered comments of a bowler who has been ignored since retiring from Test cricket last summer to concentrate on an international one-day career.

'Darren can blame us as much as he likes,' he said. 'But we have had a perfectly legitimate concern about what has been a very serious knee injury. I would rather players get angry when they're dropped than take it lying down.

'What he has to do is show he is fit.'

Mark Butcher has urged the authorities to resolve the Zimbabwe controversy without involving the players.

This time last year, England's World Cup squad were thrown into the middle of the debate over whether to play in Harare and Butcher said: 'This time the ECB and the Government are trying to pre-empt any disasters like those that happened last time with the guys waiting to play in the World Cup.

'With a bit of luck we can go off and concentrate on playing a series in the West Indies and it will be taken care of back here.'

Surrey have signed a three-year sponsorship deal with Brit Insurance, who will lend their name to The Oval.

The National League and Twenty20 champions hope to name their new coach next week, with former Australia wicketkeeper Steve Rixon the favourite to succeed Keith Medleycott.

MORE ABOUT

Caribbean Islands (west Indies)

Cricket

Fitness

Twenty20 Cup

Gough in line for shock England recall

Read More