GRAHAM GOOCH

Early day motion 280, tabled 22 July 1997 by Bob Russell (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 20 members.

That this House pays tribute to former England and Essex cricket captain Graham Gooch on his retirement from first class cricket after nearly 25 years at the top during which time he played a record 118 tests for his county, 34 of them as captain, and scored a record 8,900 runs; congratulates him on the major contribution he made to the many successes of Essex County Cricket Club including six county championships and other county trophies in a career in which he scored 40,859 runs including 113 centuries; and wishes this great cricketing ambassador continued success and good health in his continuing service to the game as a test selector and in other ways.

Signatures by party: Conservative 9, Labour 6, Liberal Democrat 5.