DARREN Gough intends playing an even bigger part for Yorkshire now that he has announced his retirement from Test cricket.

The strike bowler should be back in action for them in the Championship at Scarborough next week when they need to beat Second Division leaders Worcestershire in order to get their push for promotion back on track.

Gough quashed speculation that he may pack up cricket altogether by stressing that not only did he want to continue playing one-day internationals for England but that he was keen to try to help Yorkshire move forward.

And Geoff Cope, the county's director of cricket, today made it clear that the 32-year-old pace ace still has a big future with the club.

"Darren was missing today's floodlit match against Warwickshire Bears at Headingley because he wants to be with his family after what has been a very difficult time for him," said Cope.

"As for his future, he will certainly be welcomed back by Yorkshire and we look forward to him being available for the rest of the season.

"He still has a major part to play for us and he can be a big help in trying to win promotion in the Championship at the first time of asking.

"There can be no doubt that Darren has been a tremendous servant of English cricket. He has been England's leading bowler for many years and his record speaks for itself.

"Had injuries not hit him on so many occasions I feel sure that he would have taken far more than 229 wickets for England and finished higher than the country's eighth leading wicket-taker in Test cricket."

As well as wanting to continue his one-day international career, Gough is keen to be around for the next World Cup in four years' time, but both goals are a long way down the road.

With only four Championship appearances so far this summer - in which he has taken 11 wickets at a rather costly 31.36 runs apiece - Gough has still not proved that his knee will stand up to regular cricket over a long period of time.

If he is injured again before the end of the season or if a lack of wickets means he cannot hold his place in the side then both Gough and Yorkshire may need to re-think his future with the club.

At the moment, however, he is being welcomed back to the ranks and if some of the old Gough magic can restore Yorkshire's flagging fortunes he may soon be hitting the headlines again for all the right reasons.

Updated: 11:26 Wednesday, August 06, 2003