Gough declares he's ready for Test return

Darren Gough has spoken out ahead of the first Test against South Africa at Edgbaston, urging the England selectors to pick him on merit after his successful recovery from a succession of knee operations.

Gough, 32, was named Man of the Match in Saturday's NatWest series final, after picking up 2 for 9 in seven overs. "I'm as ready as I'll ever be," he told the News of The World newspaper, "and getting back into the Test team has always been the ultimate aim. I want to be picked on merit as one of the best fast bowlers in the country - and I think I've proved that in this NatWest Series."

"It's up to the selectors now," added Gough, who has taken 228 wickets in 56 Tests, and would dearly love to overhaul Fred Trueman's tally of 307, to become the most successful Yorkshire bowler in Test history. "I want no favours, no sentiment, but I'm convinced I won't let them down."

Michael Vaughan, Gough's captain in the one-day series, added his support for a recall. "The five weeks I've had Gough, he has been fantastic," said Vaughan. "Whether his knee can hold up to the longer format of the game is not for me to say. It will be down to the medical people and Gough to decide that. But he is a world class player."

David Graveney, England's chairman of selectors, sounded a note of caution, but could not deny the impact a fully fit Gough would have on the Test team. "Darren is a major influence. When he marks out his run you can feel the response from the crowd - he is a hero."

Graveney insisted he had been misquoted in saying that Gough was not in consideration for the five-day format. "We just have to be sure that he can go the distance," he said. "To be fair, 10 overs one day and a break and then 10 overs the next day in one-day matches is different to bowling 25 overs in a Test match and then have to do it all again the following day."

The selectors name their squad on Friday, and in the meantime Gough will play in the County Championship for Yorkshire against Durham on Tuesday. Of the centrally contracted England players, Ashley Giles will be able to play for Warwickshire against Middlesex and Stephen Harmison will be available for Durham against Yorkshire. Both men, however, will be rested from their limited-overs matches.