Bye bye Dazzler

At the ripe old age of 38, and with more comebacks than Tom Jones (otherwise an entirely similar bloke) behind him, Goughie has finally called it a day.

Many say a glittering career in TV is ahead of him. That remains to be seen, I have a horrible sense that he might turn into a cricketing version of Ian Wright. What I think is unarguable is that he leaves behind him a career which glittered throughout and which changed English cricket.

With Graham Thorpe, he was our best and most consistent match-winner in the post-Botham era. But whilst Thorpe usually played quiet effective, significant innings, Goughie was pure Barnsley bragadoccio. Chest puffed out, arse swaggering to the crease he was quick, skiddy, aggressive bowler, happy to trade jaffas with boundaries. He relished the contest. At times, he was the lone spearhead against quality batting. He found partners in crime at times: Gus Fraser and Andrew Caddick both provided the contrast, if not always the consistency, to put genuine pressure on batsmen. Although his record is similar to both of these bowlers, his explosive, effervescent element will mean that he will be remembered longer.

Despite outward appearances, he was also a thinking bowler. I remember him working Lara out with a three ball trick in 2000, and varying his pace, line, and type of delivery cleverly throughout England's successful tours of Pakistan and Sri Lanka the following winter.

At that stage of his career, he was the best "death" bowler English one-day cricket has had, and remains the best one-day bowler. The likes of Flintoff and Broad will no doubt overhaul him in terms of one day wickets, they will be better bowlers from having developed watching and bowling with him.