Gough: I'm ready to answer England SOS

Darren Gough has responded to Sportsmail's revelations that he is being considered for a shock World Cup call-up with an emphatic pledge that he will be ready to respond to his country's call.

England are so concerned at the paucity of the fast bowling at their disposal, at least before yesterday's emphatic victory over Australia, that they have sought and received ICC permission to go outside their nominated World Cup 30 when they announce their final 15 for the Caribbean on February 13.

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Gough is at the forefront of their thoughts but they are also looking at the claims of James Kirtley and Ryan Sidebottom from outside the squad and Stuart Broad from within.

"I've never given up and never will give up," said Gough yesterday here in Sydney, where he is taking part in a veterans' beach cricket tournament involving legends from England, Australia and the West Indies.

"My original non-selection was a misunderstanding and that's all forgotten now. England have just picked a 36-year-old debutant in Paul Nixon, so why shouldn't they pick me again at 36?

"The news has come as a surprise but I'm fit, ready and feel I can still do a job for my country."

England have got themselves in a mighty pickle over Gough, firstly saying that he had been excluded on fitness grounds before issuing a full apology when he was in Brisbane during the one-day series.

Then England wanted to go with their younger bowlers, now they do not seem so sure. But the idea of Gough's selection received ridicule from England legend Ian Botham, who said: "Angus Fraser is delighted. He's going up to Brisbane to watch Darren Gough bowl in beach cricket in his Speedos to see if he's good enough for England. It's a ridiculous situation."

■YORKSHIRE are preparing a recordbreaking offer to try to lure Gough back to Headingley — possibly as skipper.

The move would make the Essex paceman the highest paid Englishman in domestic cricket with a summer salary of at least £130,000 should he choose to end his career in his home county.

Yorkshire chief executive Stewart Regan said: "We are aware he has not signed a new contract with Essex and I am sure we would be interested in talking to him."