Darren Gough, the former England fast bowler, has been awarded an MBE for services to the game of cricket in Queen's Birthday Honours list. 

The list, stated a report by Sky Sports, "was due to be published in June but was pushed back to allow nominations for people playing important roles during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic."

Read Also: Ian Botham made member of House of Lords in British Parliament

Playing 58 Test matches as an enforcer of the attack from 1994 to 2003, Gough took 229 wickets, including nine five-wicket hauls, at an average of 28.39. 

In ODIs, the right-arm quick from Yorkshire had 235 scalps in 159 matches at an average of 26.42 and went at an economy rate of 4.39 runs per over. 

Gough was crucial to England's Test series wins in Pakistan, Sri Lanka under Nasser Hussain's captaincy, and also his country's rare away Ashes win in those days via the '99 Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. 

Beyond his fantastic exploits on the field, where he also took 855 first-class wickets and 598 in List A cricket, Gough is remembered as someone English captains turned to when in the need for breakthroughs and most of the times he delivered. His energy and effort were second to none among the English bowlers he played alongside. 

Retiring from Test cricket following a knee injury which ruled him out of the 2002-03 Ashes trip to Australia, Gough kept playing ODIs for England until 2006. However, he soon called time on his international career after being left out of the squad for the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean.

He did return to first-class cricket and led Yorkshire thereafter before bidding adieu to the professional game in September 2008. 

Post-retirement, Gough has swiftly transitioned into a radio broadcaster and was even picked as a bowling consultant for England's last winter tour to New Zealand.