London, Jan 23: Warwickshire and Middlesex emerged as contenders to sign former England Test star Darren Gough after the paceman said he was leaving Yorkshire. On Wednesday, Gough, 33, cited "family reasons" as the factor behind his move from Yorkshire, the county of his birth and the only club of his 15-year professional career.
Gough, who retired from Test cricket during the last English season but remains available for one-day internationals, lives in Milton Keynes, south-east England and wants a county that is situated nearer to where his children live.
Warwickshire captain Nick Knight, once an England teammate of Gough's, said the fast bowler would be an ideal addition to the Edgbaston-based county's attack.
"Gough is absolutely the sort of player we want,” Knight said.
Knight also told a Birmingham-based newspaper, "He fits the bill for us perfectly. We've a young, inexperienced attack and he is a natural leader. Not only would he strengthen our attack, but he would be a great person for the younger bowlers to learn from.”
Injury-plagued Gough was furious at being left out of the one-day sections of England's recent tours of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and believes he could still be a force when the 2007 World Cup comes around.
Gough made a comeback from long-term knee injury last summer and played a key role in one-dayers against Pakistan, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
But the strain of playing in Test cricket proved too much and he bowed out of the five-day game after England's innings defeat by South Africa in the second Test at Lord's in August.
However, the ground also witnessed Gough's first-class debut and in July he was named Man-of-the-Match there after England's one-day Natwest series final win against South Africa.
Gough has taken 727 first-class wickets at an average of 26.92. Bureau Report