NICK HOWSON: A small London theatre was the scene of the exit into the shadows of one of the most nimble batsmen to grace the sport
House lights down, a rig of bulbs dimmed; David Gower exits stage left.
He struggles through the black curtain, searching for the stage door. Stumbling through the covering, he eventually finds refuge between the backdrop and backstage and finally out of sight. A future call from Strictly Come Dancing is not imminent.
It was a rather unedifying exit for one of the most elegant batsmen Test cricket has ever seen. Since taking his leave from Sky Sports, Gower has told his story during a 19-date tour of UK towns and cities including hotspots such as Corby, Stamford and Cleckheaton. Channelling David Brent "I travel boy," the 62-year-old could say.
The Duchess Theatre in Covent Garden, a stone's throw from street performers posing as human statues, is where Gower's near-45-year spell in the public spotlight comes to a standstill.
'On The Front Foot' is a first-person account of the fulcrum of Gower's playing career. To all intents and purposes, it is a one-man show, with no mediator to push him on the finer details of a stellar tenure lasting 18 years. Nevertheless, with two decades of experience as a broadcaster, Gower needs no introduction over how to captivate an audience with eloquent story-telling.
After 20 years with Sky Sports, David Gower was offloaded at the end of the summer
His stage is typically understated yet littered with cricket memorabilia. A touring trunk containing two bats - there is no masterclass, however - and a helmet lies on the floor.
A small table is stacked with a selection of books including one of his own and Chris Gayle's 'Six Machine' while a drinks globe containing a selection of empty wine bottles stands nearby. The setup is quintessentially Gower.
Having grown used to a quick-witted, sometimes even droll approach during interviews and in his media career, Gower lets the shackles off straight away.
Barely 15 minutes in we're three "f****" down. The ice is broken, so to speak. The assembled audience are almost aghast at the chosen language.
"Once England captain" Chris Cowdrey, Sir Ian Botham and Mike Gatting dominate the evening of tales from tours gone by, off-the-field japes and backroom politics.
The stories themselves, perhaps illuminated by the Tiger Moth incident which cost he and John Morris £1,000, engage those both who regard themselves as Gower experts and others drawn to the event due to their love for cricket.
For the fair-weather fans out there, there are plenty of visual aids to punctuate the monologue. A map surely lifted directly from the board game Risk dominates the backdrop, with Gower's head floating around the screen from continent to continent, as his career develops.
Later, we see footage from his infamous demise at Adelaide in the fourth Test of the 1990-91 Ashes series - perhaps the most famous dismissal of his career.
The after-dinnner circuit is awaiting David Gower
Either side of Gower's outing is the long-run of The Play That Goes Wrong, an almost vaudevillian comedy from start to finish. Fortunately, there no such direct links can be made between the box-office hit and Gower's first attempt at treading the boards.
He keeps his audience suitably entertained for two-and-a-half hours, even answering a selection of questions submitted during the interval. Many were flat-batted away but the willingness to engage in such a session displays a desire to absorb.
The question is, what will follow?
A scorer 8,231 Test runs, still, the fourth highest in England's history deserves a better fate than the after-dinner circuit.
Yet, having been dismissed by Sky - a decision Gower had seen coming for some years - he is bound for a move into the shadows. The brief foray onto BBC Radio 4 will not be repeated, and no other offers have yet been forthcoming.
With another quip and a story about an inebriated Botham sinking his head into iced water in Australia, Gower disappears into the night.
A legend of British sport evaporates out of the public eye. Of course, he deserves the peace and sanctuary of normal life, but you can't help but feel we're being wrongly deprived of a man with a fountain of knowledge and plenty of inclination to share it.
We can only hope that common sense prevails.
Posted by Kenneth Thompson on 24/09/2020 at 17:19
David Gower was my cricket hero i was so sad when his test career was cut short by the small minded and jealous Graham Gooch but on the plus side we got one of the best commentators of the game I cannot believe that sky ended his contract Atherton apart the rest of them are clueless what with Wards obvious lack of cricket nous and Hussains mindless vocal hysterics I now have to watch with the sound turned down
Posted by George moss on 28/08/2020 at 20:48
disgusting dismisal by sky of one the greats of cricket thanks David
Posted by Nigel Osborne on 10/08/2020 at 00:57
Initially I could not believe that we the public could be deprived of the class of David Gower as a commentator/chairman of commentators during test match cricket. Now with the perspective of nearly a year, the feelings of disappointment and deprivation are even deeper seated. We are the losers and the loss is deeply felt.
Posted by Felicity Henriques on 18/07/2020 at 19:24
He is sadly missed. I’ve given up my Sky sports subscription as the cricket commentary is not what It was and the cricket was the main reason I had Sky Sports
Posted by David Rimmer on 15/11/2019 at 23:30
IT is a pity that David Gower has not received the send-off or goodbye that his reputation deserves. He has given much to our beautiful game with his artistry at the crease and his gazelle like fielding as a young player (before injuries slowed him down). Giving up University in his first year to play professional cricket full time in 1976 (he had featured for Leicestershire in 1975) must have been a gamble but it worked _ had he stayed a London University it is doubtful he would have played for England at 21 (against Pakistan in June 1978), as he would at that stage have been taking his Finals. Post playing, his wry humour and verbal dexterity in the commentary box have been soothing to listen to. Yes, he has given much and he maintained his dignity which is not easy to do under at times great provocation (the press and the England selectors) in the public eye. He has rightly been rewarded for his talent but it is important to remember that Gower has done pretty well for himself when you look at people he played for England with. I will take two examples of players for whom retirement has forced a reality check. They did not have the same talent but have been forced to adapt. Les Taylor, a Leicestershire teammate of Gower and much more briefly an England one, went to work for the Royal Mail as a postman. Nothing wrong with that but an example of a player who was quickly forgotten Taylor was a miner before he became a cricketer so was no doubt grateful to be working in the fresh air. Despite going on a South African rebel tour, I doubt he retired from cricket a rich man _ there was no comfortable job to go to. Chris Old (a solid performer in around 40 Tests), has experienced various difficulties after giving up playing and after a Fish and Chip shop venture went wrong has worked for Tesco’s long after his state retirement age. I am not asking people to shed tears for these two players but to remember that a superstar like Gower enjoyed far more benefits after retiring from Cricket than an average international player. That is only natural but one must never forget those who have had to struggle and Gower is a balanced man. He will know that and after seeing his father die when he was a teenager, will know that life has nastier outcomes. Gower has enjoyed good health and will be aware that two former county team-mates Paddy Clift (bone marrow cancer) and Chris Balderstone (cancer) died at only 43 and 59 respectively.
Posted by Terry Sunderland on 12/11/2019 at 03:35
Saw the show at Cleckheaton. Very elequant and interesting and enjoyed every minute. Knows the game inside out and is a natural and balanced pundit
Posted by Chris Coke on 08/11/2019 at 15:04
The reason Gower's contract at SKY was not renewed in my opinion was ageism.. He will be greatly missed by his knowledge and dry sense of humour. He was also a great player. The manner of dismissal was ruthless and showed no regard for him as a person.
Posted by Sheila Allcock on 05/11/2019 at 16:51
I absolutely agree. As well as being the most glorious batsman of his time, his commentary with wit and dry humour enlivened the broadcasts of cricket and kept the conversation going in an interesting way when rain stopped play. I was horrified when I heard that Sky were giving him the sack and agree that we are being "wrongly deprived"
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