Darren Gough is razor-sharp for the fifth and final Test starting at Headingley tomorrow, having just honed his skills to a fine edge with a match winning five for 36 in Yorkshire's game at Worcester - his most outstanding analysis for two years.

The country's top strike bowler was meeting up with his England team-mates on his home Test ground this afternoon where they were having official nets in preparation for the winner-takes all encounter with South Africa.

"Every Test match is special and representing my country is always a tremendous privilege, but the public and media interest in this game must make it the biggest challenge I have ever faced," said Gough.

"Test cricket is never less than intense but with the series all-square and one to go, it could become a pressure situation out there.

"But I could not have asked for a better venue than Headingley for this match and it will be great to have the Yorkshire crowd right behind me and spurring me on.

"It will be absolutely brilliant if I am on the balcony at the end of the match as part of the winning team with all the Yorkshire and England supporters cheering us like mad.

"It is not always easy taking wickets at Headingley but last summer I captured five in the innings against Australia and I will be aiming to do at least as well this time."

Gough will be taking part in his 25th Test match and going flat out for the seven dismissals he still needs to complete 100 wickets for England.

Yet it was his batting at Old Trafford in the third Test which helped England cling on for an unlikely draw, enabling them to make it 1-1 with the rousing eight wicket win at Trent Bridge.

"I honestly think denying South Africa at Old Trafford was the real turning point in the series," said Gough.

"The atmosphere in the dressing room afterwards was magnificent - one big celebration just as if we had won with everyone hugging each other.

"At Trent Bridge it was more subdued because we all had to go off and play championship or NatWest games. We enjoyed listening to the crowd cheering us for half an hour, then we all shook hands and went our various ways.

"Now we have the chance of putting English cricket on the map again by beating the world's second best team and taking the series off them. Australia are the best and if we beat South Africa it will be just the boost to morale we need for the Ashes series coming up this winter."

Gough said he thought England and South Africa were pretty evenly matched but admitted their opponents had something special in Allan Donald.

"He has taken over 200 Test wickets and I love watching him bowl. He and Australia's Glenn McGrath are among the greatest of the world's present crop of fast bowlers and I have learned a lot from them.

"Mike Atherton won his battle with Donald at Trent Bridge but the South African will have recharged his batteries by now and will be all hyped up again at Headingley."

It was a big blow for Gough when he broke his finger while batting in the first Test at Edgbaston and had to rest up for a while, but he thinks his bowling this season has been better than his figures may suggest.

"I have kept hoping to play on some quickish pitches but most of the wickets have been on the slow side and have made it hard for strike bowlers," he said.

"I was delighted to grab five for Yorkshire as Worcestershire subsided in in their second innings. I am sure, however, that an even bigger haul is waiting for me just around the corner and if I can pick it up at Headingley then nothing could be better."

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