The England team in the early '90s was not particularly successful. Prior to the summer of 1994, they won only eleven out of 44 Tests and four of those were against New Zealand or the then weak newcomers Sri Lanka. The Botham years were long gone, the Aussies had joined the West Indies as consistently formidable opponents but, on the positive side, time had been called upon Mike Gatting's captaincy.
The FEC (Future England Captain) Mike Atherton was thrust into the role for real in 1993 although the ageing Graham Gooch and Alec Stewart were still fixtures in the side. As is so often the problem for international sides (e.g. India), England were badly in need of a genuine pace bowler or two who wouldn't spray the ball around. Devon Malcolm was undeniably fast but prone to profligate spells. Angus Fraser was an excellent seamer, McGrath-like in his nagging line and length but without the Aussie legend's speed. Phil De Freitas and Chris Lewis had their moments but when Darren Gough's work for Yorkshire earned him a debut twenty years ago this week, there was some optimism.
England were already one-up in the home series against New Zealand thanks to a crushing victory in the Trent Bridge opener, although New Zealand came close to levelling matters in the Second. In that one, left-armer Paul Taylor was recalled for his second and final appearance, so there was an opportunity for 24 year-old Gough to join his county colleague Craig White for the final match.
So on 30th June 1994, while the FIFA World Cup was proceeding towards its (in my opinion) dreary climax, young Dazzler made his debut. He didn't actually get on the pitch that day because England made only 199-4, Atherton en route to a typically dour century. However, the next day, he rather incongruously made his name with the bat. He made 65 in a century partnership with De Freitas to take his side up to a creditable 382 all out.
A quick change then he took the new ball with Fraser. His first wicket came in his first over: Mark Greatbatch caught by Graeme Hick. He went on to take 4-47 and Atherton enforced a follow-on. This time, NZ were more steadfast, thanks to Martin Crowe and Adam Parore, but it was the weather which saved them and the game was drawn. Gough took a further two wickets and his 58-Test career was off and running.
He went on to have an injury-punctuated career, taking 229 wickets at 28 apiece. His strike partnership with Andy Caddick held England together for several years, and Gough's cheeky smile, broad chest and lively personality did much to bring some life back to England's set-up. A dodgy knee brought that to a premature end nine summers later. Sadly his final bowling analysis was 28-3-127-0, as South Africa's Graeme Smith, Gary Kirsten and Mark Boucher put Gough and the other bowlers to the sword.
By this time, he was playing alongside Anderson, Flintoff, Harmison and Giles - and a new era was about to begin...
