The England team management this morning announced that injured fast bowler Darren Gough is to fly home to the UK later today.

Gough has been ruled out of cricket for three months after seeing a knee specialist in Adelaide. He will see another specialist immediately upon his return to the UK and will then have the injury re-assessed again in twelve weeks time.

The Yorkshire pace bowler bowled on consecutive days in the nets at the ECB Academy in Adelaide earlier this week, but reported swelling and discomfort in the knee on Friday.

Darren Gough said: "I'm going to go home and work hard on continually strengthening my knee. Obviously this is another setback and it's going to be a huge disappointment to miss the Ashes and the World Cup, but I want to explore all the medical options that are open to me before I make any decisions about my future career. "

Alex Tudor, who was called up to the tour party from the ECB National Academy in Adelaide earlier this week, will replace Darren Gough in the Test squad.

© ECB 2002