Darren Gough's postcard from India

Ralph Dellor

January 30, 2002

England fast bowler Darren Gough, in his latest postcard from India on his personal web site, claims that England's performances in India have not been as bad as the scoreline might suggest. He writes:

"As we come toward the end of the Indian leg of the one-day international tour, I have to say that it is tremendous to be back in the England set-up once again. I did miss it when I sat out the Test series earlier in the winter but, as much as I am enjoying this trip, I can assure you that it was necessary to have a break.

People might not appreciate just how tiring international cricket can be. There is no respite from the continual pressure of trying to do your very best for your country. It is not only the physical effort, but also the mental strain of trying to keep on the top of your game.

So that time off before Christmas was definitely necessary for me and I'm feeling the benefit now. Taking three months away from the game meant that I started this tour feeling refreshed and raring to go once again.

It was a good job I was raring to go, because it was a case of going straight back into the cooking pot - or maybe into the pressure cooker. My first game back was in front of 100,000 chanting Indians in Calcutta. It was an amazing experience that Made a huge impression on all the English lads who played.

I had to feel sorry for one of those who did not play. Andy Caddick and I have enjoyed a really good partnership over the last couple of years and I felt for him when he had to sit this one out. I have always said that I enjoy bowling with my mate at the other end and we have shared some great moments as a team.

Having said that, my Yorkshire colleague Matthew Hoggard thoroughly deserved his chance. He has always looked as if he might have the potential to become an established international bowler and there is no denying that he has worked hard to get an extended run to really show what he can do.

On a personal note, I was thrilled to get my 150th one-day international wicket in Cuttack. It came at an important time, because India were just about still in the match when Anil Kumble had a swing at a slower ball and sent a steepling catch towards mid-wicket where Paul Collingwood took a very difficult catch, running away from the wicket with the ball coming down directly over his head.

That was one milestone out of the way and now it's on to the next one. As far as I know, only seven Englishmen have played in 100 one-day internationals and, at the time of writing, I am on the verge of becoming the eighth. Even that is not many when compared to some players around the world, but we in England have only just started to pick up the pace when it comes to this form of international cricket.

We have got to start making what experience we have tell. I do not think the 1-3 scoreline in the series really reflects how we have been playing. I think it has been a lot closer than that and if you take into account the crucial umpiring decisions that have gone against us, we should be much nearer to them than that, if not actually in front.

I know we get accused of whinging about umpiring decisions and, at the end of the day, you just have to get on with the job, but we do seem to have been hit by some crucial ones. Had Marcus Trescothick not have been given out lbw in Calcutta when he was, I am sure we would have gone on to win. And what a difference it might have made if Sachin Tendulkar had been given out caught behind off the first ball I bowled to him in Kanpur.

Things like that add to the frustration of what has been a hectic tour. Six one-day internationals in the space of three weeks is a lot, especially when you take into account all the travelling around this vast country and the conditions that are so alien to us. It has been thoroughly enjoyable, but we are all looking forward to the more peaceful surrounding of New Zealand - especially the boys who were here for the Test tour.

One of the things that makes it so different here is the very tight security. We wouldn't want it any other way as it is important in this part of the world in modern times, but it is a bit restrictive. Some of the boys went to the Taj Mahal, but I decided to give it a miss because I am not really into sightseeing. The only sight I want to see is the words "bowled Gough" on the scorecard alongside the names of several Indian batsmen!"

Darren Gough's web site

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