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The fit fast bowler
Around the Academy:

Darren Gough in action against Australia last year
Being a fast bowler involves plenty of fitness work

Darren Gough

It's a great life being a cricketer, but it's hard work.

Bowling fast is not an easy thing to do.

You need to do lots of gym work because fitness is so important now compared to what it was 10 years ago.

I have to do three sessions a week on upper body work, even when I'm playing.

So even after a hard county or Test match, I still have to go to the gym to workout.

It's getting harder and harder, but it's a great life.

Darren Gough stretches during an England training session
Fast bowlers have to keep themselves in shape

If you want to be a fast bowler, don't expect anything easy. If you want it easier, take batting up.

A lot of people ask me how I prepare mentally at the start of my run-up before I've bowled a ball.

To be perfectly honest, I'm as scared as anyone else.

Everybody's scared when they go out to bat or before they bowl, no matter what they say.

The adrenaline is going, you don't want to get out first ball or get hit for four.

The Aussies are as good as anyone at it - they're as scared as anyone.

But they'll never show it. They charge out to the wicket confidently and do their thing.


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Goughie's guide
It's all child's play
The fit fast bowler

My best mates in the England camp
I get on very well with Robert Croft, as well as Craig White. But I couldn't think of one guy in the squad who I wouldn't spend time with.



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