It is a shame, when talking about the retirement of one of the finest batsmen to have graced the cricket grounds of the world, that the emotion closest to the surface is that of anger. The treatment of David Gower by the Dexter-Stewart-Gooch regime was nothing short of scandalous. How did a batsman averaging nearly 45 runs per Test innings ever get left out of the side?

I believe Gower's problems with the new style of England management started as long ago as Stewart's first trip as team manger, to Australia in 1986–87. Micky had played in and managed Surrey sides which rarely knew how to enjoy themselves, so the sight of Botham, Gower and Lamb tucking into the Bundaberg rum and having a laugh was probably a shock to the system. That tour was a great success on the field, but many of the successful players drifted quickly into international oblivion.

It was the beginning of the end for Gower. Saddled with a side riddled with mercenaries in 1989, he experienced all the opposite emotions from the ecstasy of the 1985 Ashes triumph. In came Gooch: out went Botham and Gower for the West Indies tour. There was a case to be made for excluding Botham, who had only enjoyed moderate success against West Indies, but no logical reason could be given for Gower's omission. He always loved the ball coming on to the lack – the more pace the better – and the lack of seam movement in the Caribbean enhanced his chances of survival early in an innings. He had scored heavily in 1980–81 and 1985–86 in West Indies, which made his exclusion in 1989–90 all the more ridiculous.

 David will have regretted some of the actions of which he has been accused. Not being at the ground when England lost the opening match of the 1985–86 West Indies campaign was not the way to make the Press more user-friendly. The hacks were upset again when David departed Lord's for a London theatre engagement rather than explain a moderate day in the field. The pre-lunch stroke at Adelaide and Biggles & Co.'s flying exploits in 1990–91 were irritations which a more mature management team would have handled better.

But these occasions were trivial blemishes during a career in which he handled himself with great dignity, often in very trying circumstances. Gower's loyalty to England was unwavering. He was easily able to resist the temptation to tour South Africa with the unofficial teams: his earning power, with the help of astute agent Jon Holmes, was already massive, and sponsorships would have been jeopardised by the taint of `rebel' status. But in any event, playing for England was just too important to David, and his commitment to the England team was total.

The county scene, however, was a different matter. I had my own problems with motivation at county level after the rigours of the Test scene, and David was not blameless in this regard. The Sunday game has always been totally against his playing principles. Slogging was never part of his rich repertoire, and later on he developed a complete phobia about bastardising his talents in the hit-and-giggle arena.

Even the longer one-day matches were never really his scene, and this fact would certainly not have been counted in his favour when the likes of Blakey, Fairbrother and Reeve were preferred for last winter's fateful trip to India and Sri Lanka. The selectors seemed to forget that the results of one-day internationals are remembered for about a week, while Test match outcomes are never forgotten.

The `county factor' lingered on after he left Leicestershire for Hampshire, and the Gower psyche could not cope with the attitude of selectors who expected him to produce Championship hundreds in order to secure his England place. Like me, he must have thought that averaging 45 was pedigree enough to guarantee his place until his performances took a dip. Latterly, of course, he had some problems in the field with his shoulder, and he really should have turned himself into a world-class slip fieldsman when he could no longer throw the ball effectively.

But these were minor minuses in an illustrious career. As soon as he hit that long-hop from Liaqat Ali for four in 1978 it was obvious that we were witnessing a very special talent. He was soon taking Australia by storm, with a beautiful century at Perth. David has always had a soft spot for Oz, and their discerning cricket public quickly reciprocated his feelings. Great players and captains like Allan Border and Ian Chappell remain totally mystified by Gower's treatment by the England selectors. One great innings sticks in the memory from Down Under in 1979–80. Mike Brearley insisted on starting the Sydney Test on a damp, unfit surface, and then duly lost the toss. The ball did everything it was possible to do off the seam, and occasionally rattled into batting gloves in front of teeth. Gower's fleetness of foot and quickness of eye combined in innovative strokeplay to get him within a breath of a remarkable century. Unfortunately yours truly was at the other end, and my batting style was not up to surviving long enough to get David to those magical three figures.

 Gower's captaincy got off to a difficult start with the 1984 series against West Indies. He manfully took the flak when former captains Botham and Willis persuaded him to declare at Lord's, only to see the visitors romp home by eight wickets. The team's fortunes yo-yoed between the heights of 1985 at home to the depths of 1986 in the Caribbean. I well remember, in Antigua after West Indies had completed their 5–0 demolition job, David remaining outwardly cool and cheerful when he was really burning inside with disappointment.

Now another career beckons. Readers of this magazine already know his skill as a writer, and I'm sure many WCM readers will be ordering the Sunday Express as well to keep abreast of Gower's views. Even more at ease with the microphone than the word-processor, David can expect a longer career in the commentary-box than he enjoyed on the field. Who knows, perhaps he may become the `new Benaud'. Perfection in all things would be an apt Gower motto, and to emulate Richie would be perfection indeed.

Quotes

Gower has paid the price for one of the great fallacies of sport. This is the belief that a genius could be even better if he put his mind to it. Simon Barnes in The Times

He disappointed a few peole in not carrying on during certain innings. He should have applied himself more. Alec Bedser

At its best, as he drove through the covers, his batting became artistic in that it was sculpture made flesh and animate. If Michelangelo's David had taken to cricket, he might have batted like Gower. Scyld Berry in the Sunday Telegraph

He was a key destructive player … a very tough competitor and bloody difficult to get out. Sir Richard Hadlee

I don't think we'll see David doing panto. Gower's agent Jon Holmes

A free spirit has been frozen out and the game is the loser. Former Leicestershire Secretary Mike Turner

There's something wrong with the way cricket is run in England. We're against flair. But it's very hard to spot talent through the bottom of a gin-and-tonic. The lemon gets in the way! Ian Botham

It's hard work making batting look effortless. David Gower, 1989

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