Darren Gough to continue rehab at ECB National Academy

The England team management today announced that Darren Gough is to fly to the ECB National Academy in Adelaide tonight to continue his rehabilitation from a long-term knee injury.

Gough will undergo intensive treatment at the Academy and also see a knee specialist later this week for a further assessment of the injury that has kept him out of competitive cricket since mid-July.

The 32-year-old Yorkshire pace-bowler reported swelling and discomfort in his knee yesterday after bowling two separate spells in the nets at Border Field on Saturday.

With the Durham pace bowler, Stephen Harmison, also suffering from shin-splints, England have decided to call-up Surrey's Alex Tudor from the ECB National Academy Squad and he will join up with the Test Squad in Brisbane later tonight.

England Coach, Duncan Fletcher, said: "Darren had been making good progress in his recovery from injury and it's very frustrating for him and the team that he should suffer a setback at this stage.

"He has done everything that we have asked in terms of conditioning and strengthening work and we were hoping that he could play grade cricket this weekend. But our priority now is to ensure that he gets intensive 1-1 treatment for his injury and expert medical advice.

"At this stage, we can't put a time-frame on Darren's recovery and we will have to wait for further guidance from the specialist as to the extent of his involvement in the rest of the winter tour programme."

Darren Gough said: "It's very disappointing as I felt that I was nearly there with my recovery and ready to start playing again. What I want to do now is work hard at the Academy and give myself the best possible chance of getting myself fit again for the remainder of the winter."