While Darren Gough was being besieged by hero-worshippers at Headingley yesterday, another Yorkshireman made a less dramatic exit from the field to sip champagne with the victorious England players.

Yorkshire's 21-year-old batsman Matthew Wood, who plays for Undercliffe in the Bradford League, was England's 12th man throughout the tension-charged 30 minutes it needed to take the last two South African wickets to win the fifth and final Cornhill Test by 23 runs and clinch the series 2-1.

Wood substituted for Michael Atherton who was visiting a specialist over a stomach problem, the former England captain returning just in time to see Darren Gough claim the last wicket.

But such was the intense excitement, with the pitch being the focal point of attention, that few in the 10,000 crowd actually realised that Huddersfield-born Wood was actually playing a role in an historic victory.

"I had no idea I would be involved until 15 minutes before the start when skipper Alec Stewart came up and said that Athers had not shown up yet and that I would be going out as 12th man," said Wood.

"It was a great experience and the memory of that fantastic crowd and all the excitement will remain with me for ever.

"I did not really feel a part of England's win because I was only on the field as 12th man but it was a marvellous experience and I am delighted to have been in the England camp over the past few days.

"I was fielding at mid-on for Goughie and third man for Angus Fraser and the atmosphere was absolutely electric.

"When Goughie hit last man Makhaya Ntini on the pads I ran towards the bowler and was almost alongside him when umpire Javed Akhtar raised his figer.

"I just gave him a big hug and congratulated him on what he had done." It was a dream come true for Gough who proved once again that he is the man for the big occasion.

In the course of 23 overs during South South Africa's second innings, Gough claimed career best Test figures of six for 42 as well as securing his 500th first class wicket and his 100th for England.

And then came the crowning glory when he was swallowed up by the crowd after capturing the last South African wicket.

"Leading up to the match, I had pictured in my mind's eye of being on the players' balcony while England soaked up the cheers of my home crowd for winning the match and the series," said Gough.

"And then it all went and happened. It was unbelievable."

Stewart later acknowledged the debt England owed to Gough but he refused to single him out for special praise.

"Angus Fraser was also very good and in Gough, Fraser and Dominic Cork we have an excellent three-pronged attack," said Stewart.

He felt England deserved a pat on the back for winning the series but stressed that they could not rest on their laurels.

"We have won two Test matches on the trot but there is still room for improvement. We cannot sit back and say we have cracked it because we haven't and the Ashes series in Australia this winter will be the hardest test of all."

Commenting on the size of the crowd, which took everyone by surprise, Stewart could not resist a good humoured swipe at the locals. "All the Yorkshiremen turned up because it was free and the supporters were here as well," he said.

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