England's talisman
Bob Willis, former England captain "It is all very sad after two years' hard work [to get fit]
Wisden CricInfo staff
05-Aug-2003
Bob Willis, former England captain
"It is all very sad after two years' hard work [to get fit]. There is always a tendency to hang on, but the demands are so much that you are not able to play at the top level for very long. He has been the bowler talisman for the England side. Until the last couple of weeks, he always had a smile on his face. He was an infectious character, and I feel desperately sorry for him."
"It is all very sad after two years' hard work [to get fit]. There is always a tendency to hang on, but the demands are so much that you are not able to play at the top level for very long. He has been the bowler talisman for the England side. Until the last couple of weeks, he always had a smile on his face. He was an infectious character, and I feel desperately sorry for him."
Ray Illingworth, former chairman of selectors
"He was up there with the best. He could swing it away with the new ball; later on he could make it reverse; he could bowl the yorker as well as anyone - and he had genuine pace. He was also a great character to have in the dressing-room, so he had everything really. I think we all knew in our heart of hearts this was not the Darren Gough of old. I spoke to him 12 months ago, and he thought it was all over then. He is the only one who really knows, and I think he has made the right decision."
"He was up there with the best. He could swing it away with the new ball; later on he could make it reverse; he could bowl the yorker as well as anyone - and he had genuine pace. He was also a great character to have in the dressing-room, so he had everything really. I think we all knew in our heart of hearts this was not the Darren Gough of old. I spoke to him 12 months ago, and he thought it was all over then. He is the only one who really knows, and I think he has made the right decision."
Tim Lamb, ECB chief executive
"Few will forget his hat-trick in Sydney in 1999 or his amazing catch at Lord's against the West Indies in 2000, which, along with his bowling, helped turn the series England's way. To battle back from a serious knee injury to represent England again this summer showed tremendous courage. His talent as a fast bowler, his effervescent character and his huge desire to do well for his country will be sorely missed, not only by the England dressing-room but by cricket supporters everywhere."
"Few will forget his hat-trick in Sydney in 1999 or his amazing catch at Lord's against the West Indies in 2000, which, along with his bowling, helped turn the series England's way. To battle back from a serious knee injury to represent England again this summer showed tremendous courage. His talent as a fast bowler, his effervescent character and his huge desire to do well for his country will be sorely missed, not only by the England dressing-room but by cricket supporters everywhere."
Dickie Bird, former Test umpire and fellow Barnsley-boy
"I have seen all the great greats like Dennis Lillee, Imran Khan, Michael Holding, Richard Hadlee and Andy Roberts and although he is not in their class he is not far behind. If it was not for his injury, I think he would have gone on and got 300 Test wickets, I really do."
"I have seen all the great greats like Dennis Lillee, Imran Khan, Michael Holding, Richard Hadlee and Andy Roberts and although he is not in their class he is not far behind. If it was not for his injury, I think he would have gone on and got 300 Test wickets, I really do."
David Graveney, England's chairman of selectors
"We respect Darren's decision to step down. He has been a brilliant talisman for the English team over the past decade. It has been unfortunate that his career has been blighted by injury and I am sure he would have moved higher up the all-time England wicket-taking list if he hadn't been so unlucky. He has always given nothing less than 100% for his team and I am sure that he will be missed, but hopefully his form and fitness will still allow him to make a contribution to English cricket by continuing the outstanding form he has shown this summer in the one-day squad."
"We respect Darren's decision to step down. He has been a brilliant talisman for the English team over the past decade. It has been unfortunate that his career has been blighted by injury and I am sure he would have moved higher up the all-time England wicket-taking list if he hadn't been so unlucky. He has always given nothing less than 100% for his team and I am sure that he will be missed, but hopefully his form and fitness will still allow him to make a contribution to English cricket by continuing the outstanding form he has shown this summer in the one-day squad."