Talk:David Gower

Npov

This article seems to have a bit of a NPOV problem, particularly the 'short sighted selectors' paragraph. I don't trust myself to be able to write a decent sounding biography, I'm sure there are plenty of contributors out there who can do a better job than I would. Raven4x4x 00:40, July 19, 2005 (UTC)

Who described him as "aloof"? All the former players' biographies I've seen which comment on his personality describe him as affable, approachable and easy natured. Meltingpot (talk) 19:53, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

I agree about the NPOV and have added a more detailed summary of DG's demise as an international player. It is also worth mentioning that Gower's decision to sit out the '87 world cup really rankled as it blew what was probably our best chance. Also he was the butt of many of the jokes on "They Think Its All Over"

Yes but as I've added on the main page, he had been on nine successive winter tours before then and never again declined a chance to play for England. At the time, one day cricket was not thought to be as important as tests (as damn well should be the position today), so Gower was entitled to skip an ODI tournament. By contrast, it was a complete joke that he was left out of the 1992/3 tour of India on grounds of 'age' (then he was 35) - they took Gatting (35), Gooch (39) and Emburey (40) instead! And left behind the then highest scorer in English history who was left handed and a master of spin bowling, and who had been captain in England's last series win in India. Wonderful selectors then, as now.

Yes true but look on the bright side - at least he went out at the top of his game, after that superb innings against Pakistan in 1992 where he beat Geoff Boycott's runs record in Tests. He also missed the "chance" to contract food poisoning in India as several of the England squad did (from eating a plate of prawns). It was a bad decision for England but maybe not such a bad one for him.Meltingpot (talk) 19:53, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

Is it true that he was turned down by Kent on the grounds that someone of upper=class background and education would not be any good, so went to Leicester instead?   Esedowns (talk) 17:35, 1 August 2023 (UTC)

Reverse Sweep

Gower in the 1990s became a proponent of a risky shot the Reverse Sweep that undermined his usefulness as a left handed player.

Is this true ? I haven't seen much English cricket from this time, but have listened to a lot of radio commentary. Can't remember hearing about him playing a single reverse sweep. Tintin 12:50, 11 August 2005 (UTC)

I have seen film of him attempting the shot and recall commentators at the time complaining but will remove until I get a clear citation.

It was Botham who pioneered the shot and Gatting who was pillored for it as it was the shot he was dismissed while attempting in the 1987 WC final.

Wine company

I've made a brief reference to the fact that he is now involved in an online wine business, but this was the best I could come up with by way of confirmation;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/the_ashes/1482336.stm

Meltingpot (talk) 16:47, 11 February 2008 (UTC)

Joy ride

Was it a Gypsy Moth, or a Tiger Moth? (Camillofan 15:50, 9 August 2006)

According to Michael Atherton's 2003 autobiography 'Opening Up' it was a Tiger Moth, not a Gypsy Moth (Gingersonny, 16th August 2006)

Professional Rugby Player

There was no proffessional rugby Union at the time Gower was at school and I'd be very surprized if he played Rugby League. Where does the citation-less statement on his rugby come from? It needs clarification and probably shouldn't be in the introductory paragraph. Epeeist smudge 12:13, 25 January 2007 (UTC)

I played with Dave Gower on the 1st XV of the King's Canterbury rugby team. As Epeeist smudge says, there was no professional rugby union in those days and there was no chance of Gower playing rugby league. He played outside half, and was a natural, but not outstanding rugby player and was not particularly interested in the sport. Timpontardawe 09:40, 5 June 2007 (UTC)

I've edited the paragraph to say he was a talented rugby union player. Still needs a citation- although I don't doubt Timpontardawe's word for a minute, it doesn't count as a citation. I'm not surprised he was a stand-off. Hard to imagine him as a tight-head prop! Epeeist smudge 18:10, 5 June 2007 (UTC)

Possible helpful link for style

• Guardian, Why David Gower is the Euro 2004 style icon
• Google Book, Heroes of 100 Tests

Have now used the Guardian one, already had the second one in. Many thanks SGGH ^ping! 09:00, 12 March 2009 (UTC)

GA Review

This review is transcluded from Talk:David Gower/GA1. The edit link for this section can be used to add comments to the review.

Reviewer: Sarastro1 (talk • contribs • count) 22:12, 5 September 2011 (UTC)

I'm afraid this article is a bit of a mess at the moment and quite a way off GA. I think it more than justifies a quick-fail, but as I think it deserves better, we can keep it going for at least a week. However, there is A LOT to sort out here. I've only read up to the end of the domestic section so far and it is very inconsistent. It needs to be decided how much detail is to be given; some seasons are very detailed but some are not mentioned at all. Two matches are described at length but there is 10 years of one day cricket missed out. I have not worried too much about sourcing yet, nor with the prose (which may stand tightening in places but nothing major). And I get the impression, from skimming the rest, that there is quite a lot that is unsaid. I think some wider sources are needed, and as there is no biography that I know of, maybe newspapers can fill some gaps, such as this; I know it is how they fill up North American sports articles. Anyway, here are some points to begin with but they are not exhaustive. --Sarastro1 (talk) 22:25, 5 September 2011 (UTC)

• Lead: nothing about his early life or career. Also, the remarks on his captaincy are misleading and suggest he had a good captaincy record, which was a long way from the case. May also be worth mentioning his laid-back attitude, batting style and that he was, for a time, England's leading run-scorer.
• "While at school, Gower would play representative cricket for Public Schools against English Schools at under-16 level." No reference?
• Why is the last paragraph of "Early life" in this section? It is not about his early life at all.
• Also, Early life seems over-detailed, given the lack of detail for other parts of his life. I would suggest 4 paragraphs is probably double what is needed and much of this could be cut (unless the rest of the article is bulked out considerably).
• "Gower enjoyed one of the most prolific first-class cricket careers in English history, in both domestic and international competitions" Not really supported by the ref, and I really don't think he can be said to have been among the leading county players of all time.
• The stats in the first paragraph of Playing career need dating per WP:DATED.
• Why is there so much detail on his debut? He did very little and most of the information is irrelevant. It could be cut to simply "…he scored 32 in his only innings."
• "Gower continued to make little impression…" Opinion, not supported by ref.
• "with 65 runs at 13.00…" We need to explain this for the uninitiated. At the very least, it should make clear we are talking about averages.
• "with a best of 135*": Needs expanding to 135 not out, and not out should be linked.
• Gower was a COY for 1979 which would have been for his performances in 1978. However, the article indicates he received the award for his 1979 performances.
• One day cricket in 1978, 1979, 1981 and all the following seasons?
• "which including the 1981 Ashes series." Typo
• Are his 1981 figures for f-c or OD cricket?
• "Against Essex at Grace Road he shared an unbroken county record second wicket stand of 289 with Chris Balderstone." No ref.
• "Gower scored one century in England and Australia in the next two seasons": This is hard to follow. One century in total in both countries, or one in each country. Are the seasons one in England and one in Australia, or both in England with a tour to Australia in addition?
• "…before topping 1,000 runs for three consecutive series'…" Why the apostrophe? And should it be seasons rather than series?
• "…in 1987, 1988 and 1989, with a total of seven centuries including his career best 228." After all the detail for his early seasons, it is odd that the article tails off badly and that the seasons between 1986 and 1989 barely get a mention.
• "and upon return from the 1989–90 tour of the West Indies, where he scored only four in one match…" Presumably, he played only one match, in which he scored four. But why such detail on one game when the last few seasons were swept aside in a sentence?
• Then, lots of detail again for his last match. Why? And why only mention his one-day record in 1993 after it has not been mentioned since 1980?

Other stuff:

• 4 DABlinks: Alistair Campbell, HM, Rodney Marsh and Test match.
• Several links need updating, notably the cricinfo ones (which are now espncrincinfo)
• Images fine.

I'll place this on hold, but I think we need to see some improvement and fast. If nothing has really happened within a week, I will fail this article. If longer is needed to make progress, it may be better to fail for now and renominate once the work has been done. --Sarastro1 (talk) 22:25, 5 September 2011 (UTC)

My apologies, but I have been away on holiday recently, and now suspect it better to fail while I address these points and then renominate. Thanks Sarastro1, your help is much appreciated. :) S.G.^(GH) _ping! 12:06, 8 September 2011 (UTC)

OK, I'll fail this for now. --Sarastro1 (talk) 18:14, 12 September 2011 (UTC)

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Most runs in a match

Didn’t he hold the record for the most runs scored in a test match (both innings combined)?

If not him; who? (I can’t get google to tell me).

MBG02 (talk) 12:49, 11 April 2020 (UTC)

Try this page. I assume you're thinking of Gooch? Blue Square Thing (talk) 13:03, 11 April 2020 (UTC)

Thank you very very much. I am very grateful for that response.

Apparently I should have used the word “aggregate” in Google. And I can’t believe my brain blurred Gooch and Gower.

So this Q has very little relevance being here on this talk page… unless the same brain blur occurs for others. MBG02 (talk) 12:48, 12 April 2020 (UTC)

@MBG02: No worries. As for Gooch and Gower, must have been the G - I honesty can't think of any way in which they were particular similar otherwise! Blue Square Thing (talk) 13:39, 12 April 2020 (UTC)

Personal life section removed

Per WP:BLP we need reliably sourced citations for this kind of information. Please do not restore it without adequate sourcing. --Dweller (talk) Old fashioned is the new thing! 16:20, 13 June 2022 (UTC)

Source material

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/65624158 --Dweller (talk) Old fashioned is the new thing! 08:20, 18 May 2023 (UTC)