 Gough having a laugh during a beach cricket event in Perth |
Darren Gough is set to end his playing career with his home county after Yorkshire confirmed they had opened talks with the former England paceman. Barnsley-born Gough, 36, made his Yorkshire debut in 1989 and stayed there for 15 years before moving to Essex for three seasons from 2004.
But Essex have failed to get him to sign a fresh contract for 2007.
Yorkshire chief executive Stewart Regan confirmed talks and said: "The club will comment further next week."
Yorkshire are yet to appoint a captain, and Gough's experience would make him a prime candidate.
Regan added: "Upon Darren's recent return from Australia, the club contacted him over whether he had signed a new contract with Essex.
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"Since then the board of directors have been in negotiations with him.
"Details have not yet been finalised, and until they are the club is not prepared to comment further.
In January, Essex remained confident they would get their man for a third season at least.
Gough was at the time taking part in a beach cricket event touring Australia where his team was skippered by Essex coach Graham Gooch.
But Gooch seems to have been unable to stop Gough from returning to roots and it is almost certain Yorkshire, who own an international venue in Headingley, have offered him improved terms.
Gough retired from Test cricket in 2003 after a stellar career.
Knee surgery revived his county career and he briefly returned to England's one-day squad last September.
In January 2006, he told BBC Sport: "The way I'm going at the moment, if I could I'd play for another five years.
"I still want to be playing some form of cricket when I'm 50. I'm sure some village pub team will have me."
His England career, which briefly spluttered back into life in September 2006, looks to have ended with his omission from the World Cup squad and the reserve list.
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