All text content on this website is the copyright of Channel 4 unless stated or indicated. All photographs are reproduced courtesy of Getty Images UK Ltd unless otherwise stated.

CRICKET ROADSHOWS

Week 11 Review - 21 Jul, Lord's Hassell denies Gough rift

Chris Hassell, chief executive of Yorkshire CCC, has denied the county has fallen out with England bowler Darren Gough due to his increasingly sporadic appearances for the Tykes.

Hassell, speaking on Saturday's Cricket Roadshow, admitted international commitments put a strain on resources but said there was no real alternative to the current central contract system.

To date this season Gough has played just one first-class match for his county and there have been persistent rumours of tension with the committee, especially when he opted to play a charity match last week while resting from a Yorkshire match.

"It's a couple of older members who seem to think it's a problem me playing for England before Yorkshire," said Gough.

"Certain people around the club, a couple of members, are trying to spoil my time and the great time I've had at Yorkshire, which has been excellent," he added.

Hassell said it was a problem Gough and Yorkshire just had to live with.

"There is this frustration but at least we've got them for big matches. The worry we have is that if they're exhausted having played a five day Test match then they're not too well prepared coming to play for us a few days after that.

"That is another difficulty but it's something we've got to learn to live with because there is no alternative. We tried it for many years unsuccessfully so we are fully behind Duncan Fletcher and the ECB's policy even though it does hit us quite a bit at times."

Dermot Reeve, speaking live from the Lord's media centre, said central contracts are an essential part of today's game but sympathized with Yorkshire's frustrations.

"I think it's working well, particularly with the bowlers, but I wonder about the batters. I think if a batsman's in form and playing a lot he might feel a bit tired but he should be in nick if he's getting runs under his belt. I think batting is very much a confidence thing.

"With bowling you need to put your feet up, you need to have a rest, you need to do your training etc, but you don't want to be over-bowled because that's when you get injured," said Reeve.

"That's what happened when Darren went off and played in a charity match. It's all very well Goughy wanting to pop in and show his face for the Bunbury's but if you do take the field, even in a charity match, you do take the risk of getting a top edge into the teeth and missing a Test match. But on the whole I think central contracts are a good thing and are working."

Elsewhere in programme chairman of selectors David Graveney defended the selection of so many players from two counties – Surrey and Yorkshire.

"I think we may have upset the remaining counties but we as selectors go around the whole country looking for people in the Tests, the academy scheme and the one-day side," said Graveney.

He explained that Yorkshire's current crop of internationals was largely the result of an excellent academy system – the largest in the country – and denied the selectors were influenced unduly by Headingley being a bowler-friendly pitch.

"Somewhere like Taunton I actually think is a really good place to watch cricket. For me it's one of the better wickets in the country in as far as there's a bit in it for the bowlers but the better players will prosper. It's on those sort of surfaces we're looking to watch because inferior surfaces provide a lop-sided game," he said.

Other features on the Roadshow included profiles on Mark Ramprakash and Damien Martyn, a chat with Ian Ward, and a preview of the ECB's new youth initiative The Prideside – a collection of animated lions targeted specifically at drawing more youngsters, including girls, into the sport. .

Mail the Cricket Show team at cricketshow@cricket4.com

Click to return to C4 cricket shows