Gough Heads South to Essex

Essex confirmed this morning that they have signed the former England and Yorkshire fast bowler Darren Gough for the 2004 season.

After quitting Yorkshire two weeks ago, Gough sparked a race between several counties to secure his signature.

"There were six counties who were interested in me," he said, "although I only met three of them.

"I think it was only going to be Essex, although people always try to persuade you otherwise, but deep down I knew Essex were the county for me.

"It is a club run by cricketers, they've had success in the past and I am sure they can have it again, which is the reason I'm here."

The presence of Nasser Hussain at Chelmsford might just have tipped the balance in Essex's favour. Gough, 33, once said Hussain was the best captain he had played under.

He was also keen to play for a county that was closer to his two young children at their Milton Keynes home. But the return of David Byas to coach Yorkshire might have been a factor too after the pair fell out when Byas was his county captain.

Gough took 229 wickets in 58 Tests, and an England-record 188 wickets in 121 one-day internationals, but has been struggling with a long-term knee problem. Essex, who are coached by the former England captain Graham Gooch, clearly feel he is worth the risk.

"I'm not here just to play a bit-part," said Gough, "but there are many physical demands on fast bowlers now and they need to be able to communicate with the coach and skipper.

"We've all discussed that and I'm here to play as much cricket as I can."

And his new life could be made easier by Essex-based millionaire Bob Weston, who told the Mirror he would fly Gough to matches in his private helicopter to cut down on travel time.

Essex will be hoping to benefit from Gough's desperate desire to prove that he can still represent England at one-day level. Still simmering over his omission from the one-day squads in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, Gough feels he has a point to prove.