Cricket: Gough to miss Sharjah tour

Darren Gough has pulled out of England's tour to Lahore and Sharjah in December.

The Yorkshire fast bowler has asked to miss the trip as he wants to be present at the birth of his second child. Gough was in Australia when his son Liam was born. Kent's Matthew Fleming will be his replacement.

The outgoing captain, Peter Moores, is to take on the role of player- coach at Sussex next year. Moores takes on the new position as part of a major restructuring that saw the Surrey coach, Dave Gilbert, appointed deputy chief executive and director of cricket yesterday.

Moores will be in charge of the playing side with Gilbert acting as a link between the administration, headed by the chief executive, Tony Pigott, and the players.

Zimbabwe failed to build on a superb start to the second and final Test against New Zealand in Bulawayo yesterday as New Zealand hit back in the last two sessions. At stumps the hosts were 263 for 4, with all-rounder Guy Whittall unbeaten on 66 and the player-coach, Dave Houghton, on four not out.

Whittall had earlier put on 70 for the third wicket with Andy Flower, who made 39.