For a quarter of the previous century, Graham Gooch was a reassuring staple of the summer game, Essex and England traditions epitomised by his broad bat and heavy tread. Since his reluctant retirement, cricket has changed as radically as the world itself and today, on his 55th birthday, its dramatically altered landscape fills him with foreboding.

Gooch remains consumed by cricket. He coaches, commentates and runs a scholarship programme. But, more than that, he worries about the game and its direction. On Saturday, in his role as father figure to Essex’s vibrant young side in Twenty20 Cup Finals Day, he will be torn between ambition and anxiety.

Along with Paul Grayson, the first-team coach, Gooch has been responsible for instilling method and self-belief in this talented team. If they win at the Rose Bowl, they will head to the first Champions League, and the giddy prizes that entails.

But Gooch fears that things are moving too fast in this hectic new cricketing world. He is critical of the decision to schedule two domestic Twenty20 events from 2010. “It seems to me that we’re rushing things through just so we don’t miss the boat,” he said. “The juggernaut is running and no one can stop it.

“I find it odd that we’re going to have two tournaments. Do you promote one above the other? And then there is the issue of too much cricket. A couple of years ago, we all wanted more space between games - time to rest and practise. That’s been conveniently put aside, now that the dollar has taken over.”

At a higher level, his concern is for the very fabric of Test cricket, an arena that he graced through 118 matches and almost 9,000 runs. “I’m very worried about the future,” he said. “None of us really knows whether Twenty20 is sustainable over a long period of time. We’re only guessing where it might end up but I can see it being like the golf tour. There could be a year-long circuit of international Twenty20 tournaments around the world, each one lasting ten days or a fortnight.

“If that happens, the damage to Test cricket will be huge. Some players would just commit to the tour, not bothering with the long form of the game, and that would seriously dilute standards.

“We’ll see counties change their approach and put Twenty20 at the head of their policy agenda. They’ll be going for a certain type of cricketer, because that’s where the bucks are. Long term, this will impact on technical skills and make it a lot harder for the classical players - a Monty Panesar, for instance - to get a chance.”

But, while Gooch will continue to caution against excess, he will not stint on his celebrations (with his favoured red wine) if Essex secure their first silverware of a potentially landmark season. They won seven one-day trophies, along with six County Championships, during his playing career. Now, it is the likes of Ravi Bopara, Danish Kaneria and Graham Napier who lead the way. Napier’s emergence has been startling, even to Gooch. “He’s been here since I was playing,” he said. “Napes always had raw talent but until now he’s never been able to harness it in his mind.

“In Twenty20, you’ve got to be aggressive but the absolute key is to play proper cricket shots and not get caught up in the moment. He’s done that this year and he’s playing what I call three-quarter shots - deliver the technique but don’t try to hit the ball from Leeds to Manchester. Just as in golf, it’s all about the swing.”

Gooch has never concealed his patriotism or his standards. As England captain, he once accused his failing players of lacking “mental fibre”. This week, he has publicly mourned the inclusion in the Test side of Darren Pattinson. “Even a few months ago, he was playing in Victoria and probably harbouring hopes of getting in the Australia side,” Gooch said. “I don’t know how you can just change allegiance like that. I can’t get my head around it.

“I’m not in favour of any policy that says we pick anyone who is qualified if it makes us look a better side. There’s got to be a heartbeat, a sense of values.

What if there were suddenly eight Pattinsons around, all with Kevin Pietersen’s ability? Do we put them all in the side and forget they’d only been in England five minutes?

“It’s only English cricket that offers this flag of convenience. To me, the heart of it is how you’re brought up. I watched all the England players of the past and was proud to feel English. That’s how you build up loyalty and passion - you can’t recreate it artificially.”

Even now, 11 years since he retired, the Union Flag runs indelibly through Gooch and his every thought. Those administering the game would do well to listen.

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