The strike partnership have been one of England's success stories since they began opening the bowling together in 1999, sharing 462 Test wickets.

We very much hope his international career is not finished ECB chief executive Tim Lamb

But Gough, 33, has not played international cricket for 10 months, and returned home early from the Ashes tour after failing to recover from a knee injury.

"I'm not up-to-date on what Darren's been doing medically.

"But it's a big ask for him to come back at his age into the international arena," Caddick told BBC Radio Five Live.

"I don't think the partnership will be back but you never know what partnership is around the corner."

Gough has admitted his international career could be finished if he could not gain successful treatment on his worn-out cartilage.

Caddick passed his former partner's career total of 228 Test victims with a seven-wicket haul that led England to victory in the final Ashes Test.

If we had played this tour with the side that won in Pakistan and Sri Lanka we would have done very well Andrew Caddick

End of an era?

Caddick, whose 62 Test caps are six more than Gough's, now has 234 Test scalps at an average of 29.91.

England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive Tim Lamb hopes Gough will return next season.

"I am not absolutely 100% up to speed with Darren Gough's injury situation other than I know he is working really hard on his fitness," he said.

"He is a talisman for English cricket. We very much hope his international career is not finished.

"I hope Andrew is wrong."