Highest World Ranking: 1
David Gower is the fifth highest test match runs scorer for England after Alastair Cook, Graham Gooch, Joe Root and Alec Stewart, but crucially ahead of Geoffrey Boycott. Among several books are his two autobiographies, the first entitled, thanks solely to the imagination of the publishers, “Gower, the Autobiography” and the second (2013) more aptly titled “An Endangered Species”, reflecting both his reputation and his love of wildlife. Now a broadcaster and journalist, although sadly 20 years at Sky Sports Cricket as the host of their international coverage ended in September 2019. Their choice not his! Prior to his years at Sky Sports he spent 5 years as a commentator for BBC TV, also presenting Gower’s Cricket Monthly, not to be confused with David Gower’s Cricket Weekly on Radio 5, 8 years as team captain opposite Gary Lineker on BBC TV’s “They Think It’s All Over”, with Nick Hancock, Jonathan Ross and Rory McGrath, with whom he has also worked on the BBC Holiday programme. After 2 years as the Sunday Express cricket correspondent, and 2 more as a columnist for the Sunday Telegraph he then wrote a well-received column for the Sunday Times for a good ten years. He was also at one stage wine correspondent for BA’s Skylines magazine.
Interests include safaris and wildlife conservation, in which he is actively involved with the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation and as a patron of Save (Australia) and Tusk, wildlife photography, skiing, tennis and classical music. Has ridden in a British bobsled and is a member of the St Moritz Tobogganing Club, home of the Cresta Run.
Born on 1st April, 1957, David Ivon Gower is married to Thorunn and has two daughters, Alexandra and Samantha.
Now with more time spare than anticipated he is looking for highly paid extra work to inspire him!
Career details and accolades
Test debut 1978 v. Pakistan at Edgbaston
117 Test Matches, 32 as captain 1984-6,1989
114 One Day Internationals
8231 test runs, including 18 test match hundreds
10 overseas tours with England
1000 runs in a season 13 times
53 first class hundreds, including 3 double hundreds
Best performances:
County: HS: 228 Leics. v. Glamorgan 1989
BB: 3-47 Leics. v. Essex 1977
Test: HS: 215 v. Australia, Edgbaston 1985
BB: 1-1 v. India, Kanpur 1985
Awards and Qualifications
OBE 1992
MA, Southampton (Hon)
MA, Loughborough (Hon)
Hon Blue, Herriot-Watt University, Edinburgh
Dr of Science, Univ of Winchester (Hon)
Dr of Letters, De Montfort University Leicester (Hon)