That fast bowlers hunt in pairs is known to all. They are more effective operating in that fashion. A glance at the history of Test Cricket would testify that.

Constantine – Martindale, Larwood-Voee, Lindwall-Miller, Tyson-Stathann, Trueman-Statham, Lillie-Thomson, Botham-Willis, Wesley Hall-Charlie Griffith, Imran Khan – Sarfraz Nawaz, Wasim Akram- Waqar Younis, Curtly Ambrose – Courtney Walsh are the names that come readily to mind along with the fearsome phenomenon in the late 70’s and 80’s, when the West Indies had the luxury of choosing a quartet from the likes of Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Malcolm Marshall, Joel Garner, Wayne Daniel, Sylvester Clarke, Colin Croft, Ezra Moseley, etc. If an opening batsman somehow played out the opening spells, he had no time to relax, as the next two would be equally deadly.

A great fast bowler without a comparable partner may get more wickets, but it will not result in more victories for the team. The cases of Kapil Dev and Richard Hadlee would prove the point. 

Of late, a new pair has entered the reckoning with these great combinations. It is the Darren Gough – Andrew Caddick pair. They have been the single biggest factor in their team’s historic victory over the West Indies, their first since 1969. Such was the inspiration that teammates got from them that the other pacemen, Dominic Cork and Craig White also came into their own and made a significant contribution to the English Summer. Infact, the pacers have been the main architects of the England Victory in the absence of a very strong batting lineup.

As a pair, Gough and Caddick are a study in contrasts. Gough is lively, cheerful and always ready for a chat. He is a constant live wire in the field and in the dressing room. For his flamboyance and shining eyes, he is called ‘dazzler’ by his teammates and fans. 

Caddick, on the other hand, is a loner and mostly keeps to himself. For this reason, he is sometimes misunderstood. But, now, according to Caddick himself, he feels more comfortable in the team. 

The contrast between the two partners can be stretched to their respective backgrounds. Gough, born in the great English county of Yorkshire, made famous by Fred Trueman, Len Hutton and the incomparable Geoffrey Boycott has a belief in the heritage and pride that he carries, which is the reason for his dynamism and chirpy character. 

Caddick comes from completely different roots. He was born in New Zealand and came to England to further his career with Somerset. 

But, together they form a formidable partnership as they complement each other perfectly. Gough has pace and skids on to the bat, while Caddick has bounce and swing. 

Both of them have had constant injury worries but when they play together, they show how effective a combination they are. 

Both have career averages of over 27 runs per wicket. But, from November 25 in Johannesburg to Oval-2000, they have taken nearly 100 wickets between them. Gough averaging in the 25’s and Caddick in the 22’s. 

Overall, in their 16 matches together, Gough and Caddick have taken a total of more than 125 wickets or nearly eight per Test.  Both generate enough pace to trouble decent Batsman. Infact, Gough has found encouragement in the speed gun and is only too happy to test himself against it. Caddick has the added quality of great control alognwith a high action. 

A major portion of the credit for their success goes to the England coach, Duncan Fletcher who nursed them in South Africa. They were also helped by the arrival of Central contracts, which prevented them from playing in meaningless County games and picking up minor injuries. For this reason, Gough and Caddick will put their feet up till the ICC Knock-out Trophy in Nairobi and then to the extreme test of the twin tours of Pakistan and Sri Lanka in altogether alien conditions. 

Caddick is on the wrong side of 30 and Gough is fast approaching that mark. Both know that they have a limited time at the top and will, in all probability, give their all, to make an impression, in a bid to be included in the illustrious list of all-time great fast bowling combination.