London: The outgoing chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Lord MacLaurin, said on Sunday he believes England fast bowler Darren Gough may never play competitive cricket again. MacLaurin told 'BBC Radio Five Live' that he feared for the future prospects of 32- year-old Gough, who was forced to fly home from the Australian tour this month without playing a game. Three operations have failed to cure a knee injury the Yorkshire paceman sustained in a One-day International in New Zealand in February. MacLaurin said, "Darren fit and well would be a great plus for us but it looks like it could be the end for him now. "Bad legs for fast bowlers are not good news I suspect it could well be the end for him and it would be very sad if that is the case." Gough himself told 'British Sunday' newspaper the 'News of the World' that he would shortly meet doctors to discuss his future but that he was prepared for the worst. "If I need another operation or some other sort of treatment, that will definitely be the last chance," Gough told the paper. "But I could also be told I'm wasting my time - that it's all over already. I've come to terms with the fact that's what I could be told." David Morgan takes over MacLaurin's job on January 1.

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Tags: cricket, london, england and wales cricket board, ecb, lord maclaurin, england fast bowler darren gough, bbc, australia, yorkshire, new zealand, david morgan.