Gough told to prove fitness before Test recall

Darren Gough will have to prove his fitness in first-class cricket before he has any chance of an England Test recall, according to Duncan Fletcher, the England coach. Gough excelled for England with 4 for 26 in their demolition of Zimbabwe at Bristol in the NatWest Series on Sunday.

But Gough, 32, has been troubled by a succession of knee injuries which sidelined him from international cricket for the best part of a year. Fletcher explained he was not willing to take any chances with Gough in the npower Test series against South Africa, starting on July 24. "The only guy who knows whether he is fit enough for Test cricket is Darren," he said. "To bowl 25 overs one day and maybe 15 the next, and stand in the field is a hell of a lot different to one-day cricket.

"Maybe he will need the test of another four-day game for Yorkshire to see if he can do it," he continued. "We need the experience of a fit Darren Gough in the Test side. We've just got to make sure he is fit enough to be out there for five or six sessions."

Michael Vaughan, the captain, echoed Fletcher when he said: "It is up to Darren [to decide] how his knee is and whether he wants to put himself up for Test matches. He got his four-for in this match and throughout the tournament he has bowled well and been an invaluable member of the squad. He has been a lynchpin in the team."

Gough himself also admitted that he needed more time to prove his fitness. "I have proved my fitness for the one-day game," he said. "Now before I even think about playing Test cricket it is vital I get some four-day games under my belt with Yorkshire."