Gough Will Miss First Test

The Yorkshire fast bowler had made a better than expected recovery from his long-standing knee problems, and was tipped to feature in Saturday's final warn-up match against Queensland in Brisbane.

After he bowled for 30 minutes in the nets on Friday though, England decided to keep him on the sidelines for a little longer - ruling him out of the Test reckoning.

Gough will instead target the second Test in Adelaide starting on November 21 as his possible international comeback.

"We don't want to rush him too much," explained coach Duncan Fletcher.

"He's got his career ahead of him, he's a major player and we don't want to push it too much.

"He probably could have played in tomorrow's game, but if he's not quite right and plays then the guy who should have played who is going to feature in the Test is going to miss out and that's why we've made this decision."

England are hopeful of fixing up a grade cricket match for Gough during next week's opening Test and providing he comes through that unscathed, he will almost certainly return for the three-day match against Australia A in Hobart on November 15.

Gough stressed: "If you ask the guys I bowled against in the nets today they would say I'm there already, but I think realistically it's the right decision not to play in this match.

"We've got a Test match to play and England's more important than me getting back on the field.

"The guys who are going to play tomorrow are likely to be the guys who play next week and they have to get some overs under their belts.

"I've worked hard since I got out here in the nets and on my fitness and I'm determined to be fit for as much as this tour as possible.

"That was my target when I came out here and realistically everybody thought I'd missed the first few Tests and I think I've surprised people that I'm bowling already.

"It's been a really positive start to the tour for me and I'm just pleased I'm at the stage I'm at."