Gooch scored 44,846 first-class runs throughout his career

England cricket legend Graham Gooch will be guest of honour at the next Isle of Man Sports Council's awards.

Highlights of this year include Mark Cavendish winning three stages of the Tour de France and GNCC rider David Knight taking the GBXC crown.

"The fact that the Sports Council can attract guests of the calibre of Graham Gooch is a measure of its stature,' said council chairman Geoff Karran.

The awards ceremony will take place in April 2009.

Graham Gooch played 118 Test matches for England between his debut against Australia in 1975 and his last test, also against Australia in 1995.

He scored 8,900 runs at an average of 42.58 with 20 centuries and a top score of 333 against India in 1990. He also played in 125 one day internationals, contributing a further 4,290 runs in the process.