Gough snubs I'm A Celebrity

At 34 it would have been easy for me to walk away and go into the jungle - but cricket is a main part of my life Darren Gough

Not many men would turn down the chance to spend two weeks in the Australian jungle with models Sophie Anderton and Nancy Sorrell.

But Darren Gough has.

The England veteran decided against following in the footsteps of cricketer Phil Tufnell and taking part in the latest I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here.

Instead Gough will tour Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa with England' s one-day side.

While the contestants dine on bushtucker trials, Gough will be hoping to make mincemeat of his cricketing opposition.

He said: "I had three meetings with them (I'm A Celebrity) and I had to make a quick decision on what I was going to do.

"I didn't know what the dates were and I had to find out what was happening with Zimbabwe - there was no way I was going to pull out of my cricket to go into the jungle.

"When I found out the dates clashed that was the end of it.

I'll do anything to play for England, and as long as I'm fit and I think I can do a job I'll still play Darren Gough

"It may have been a good thing for me to do but it may also have been a bad thing for me - I might have got bitten.

"I love my cricket, and at 34 it would have been easy for me to walk away and go into the jungle - but cricket is a main part of my life.

"Next year it might not be, and if I'm not fit enough or good enough in the side other things may have to take place."

Tufnell has forged a lucrative media career since winning the second series of the jungle reality show.

But Gough has pledged to keep playing international cricket as long as his ageing body allows him to.

"I've hired a personal trainer for the first time, and I've seen the advantages of that and learned new things," Gough added.

"I'll do anything to play for England, and as long as I'm fit and I think I can do a job I'll still play."

The Essex star said he was confident he could go on playing as there were other cricketers his age in the international game.

"I'm 34, and [Australians] Damien Martyn and Justin Langer are the same age and they're still playing," Gough said.

"Darren Lehmann and Glenn McGrath are older than me.

"You can say Gough won't make the 2007 World Cup squad, but half of this squad might not be there either."

England play warm-up matches against Namibia on Sunday and Tuesday, but rain every day since the squad arrived in Windhoek has hindered their preparations.