"Darren Gough asked the selectors not to consider him for the one-day squad's tour to Pakistan this winter. Darren would like to make clear that he has not decided to retire from one-day international cricket and the selectors fully understand his reasons for making himself unavailable to tour."
- David Graveney, ECB media release, 20.9.05
Err no David, you weren't told the full reason.
"I have played a lot of cricket over the last 12 months and I feel that a rest would be beneficial for me at this stage of my career."
- Darren Gough, same ECB media release.
And what better way to rest after a tough year of cricket than to take part in a celebrity ballroom dancing TV show?
While Liam Plunkett, the Jones boys and the rest of the England team prepare for their trip to Pakistan, Gough will be turning out in BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing. This is the British franchise of Dancing with the Stars, which is seen on ABC in the US and Seven in Australia.
I think it's going to be well worth tracking the Dazzler's progress in parallel with the Pakistan tour. The weekly series starts on Saturday October 15, with a daily behind-the-scenes show on BBC Two. Thankfully I'll be in the wrong part of the world to see any of it. Bruce Forsyth is the compere, a role that would have been tailor made for the late cricket commentator/Come Dancing host Peter West.
Current market at Paddypower.com has Gough and dancing partner Lilia Topylova.. er, Kopylova as 12-1 outsiders.
I think I'll cheer for Dennis Taylor.