Waqar hails Gough and Caddick partnership

London, May 21: Pakistan skipper and champion fast bowler Waqar Younis has ranked England's Darren Gough and Andy Caddick among the great fast bowling partnerships in Test cricket.

Waqar's assessment came after Gough and Caddick had bowled England to another victory over Pakistan at Lord's.

The series opener was over inside three days with England winning by an innings and nine runs, thanks to 16 wickets that fell on a frantic Sunday. Twelve of them went to Gough and Caddick.

"I can compare the Gough and Caddick partnership to what Wasim (Akram) and I had going for Pakistan," Waqar said. "Caddick in particular bowls a such a destructive line. They are different but complement each other very well."

After victories last year over Zimbabwe and the West Indies, England have moved relentlessly in pursuit of five straight Test series wins to lift it from the bottom of Test cricket's pecking order.

The success included a series win in Pakistan for the first time in 39 years and beating Sri Lanka 2-1.

Once ranked only above minnows Zimbabwe, England now enjoys the company of Australia and South Africa as the world top three Test nations. Gough, 30, and Caddick, 32, have played a major part in England's resurgence over the past 12 months, claiming 116 wickets in just 13 Tests between them.

Spurred on by their great rivalry, the pair have produced a masterly demonstration of seam and swing bowling with controlled hostility and movement and even eclipsed Pakistan's own great partnership.

Wasim and Waqar, now fading, were considered the most lethal fast bowling combination in world cricket, claiming 476 wickets in 50 Tests between them and taking a wicket every 45 balls.

The pair is followed by West Indies' now retired Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose (421 wickets in 49 Tests at 55 balls) and South Africa's Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock (353 in 41 at 50).

"Andy Caddick without Darren Gough would not be the same bowler -and Darren Gough would not be the same bowler without Andy Caddick," Gough said. From the time the pair first played together against New Zealand in Wellington in February 1997 and bowled England to victory with 15 wickets between them, Gough and Caddick have shared 152 wickets in 20 matches.

Their contribution ranks only third behind England's famous fast bowling partnership between Brian Statham and Fred Trueman (284 wickets in 35 Tests) and Ian Botham and Bob Willis (172 wickets in 24).

On Sunday, Gough and man-of-the-match Caddick took a match haul of eight wickets apiece but the Yorkshireman's 50th Test appearance was marked by a five-wicket return that earned him a place on the trophy board in the home dressing room of the famous Lord's pavilion for the first time.

Gough said taking five wickets at Lord's meant more than passing 200 Test wickets or overtaking John Snow to become the seventh most successful England bowler of all time.

His five-wicket haul included a superb burst before and after lunch when he took three wickets in four balls and was in search of a hat-trick at the start of the Pakistan second innings.

"We are playing well," Gough said. "We're on top of our game and we got the result. Soon enough we'll be playing the best side in the world in Australia.

"What the public wants is to see us compete with Australia. The people will be happy if they see England fighting in a competitive close series."

The New Zealand born Caddick, who looked unplayable on the Lord's pitch said: "The two of us use the new ball well because we capitalise on taking early wickets.

"You've got to make the most of it and it seems that in the last 18 months, myself and Darren have made the most of the new ball combination."

Skipper Nasser Hussain, forced to watch from the sideline yet again with another broken finger - his third in as many years - said: "Gough and Caddick are a pleasure to captain and their attitude is great."

"Back in 1991-92 I never thought I would get one Test," Gough reflected on his injury ravaged career. "I've worked hard at my game and now I'm reaping the rewards when you consider the injuries I've suffered. The England team have been excellent which is the reason why I've done well.

"Our success has been a combination of things - the partnership of coach Duncan Fletcher and Nasser Hussain has been excellent.

Communication is a big thing in sport, and it has been first class."