GRAHAM Gooch today added spice to the NatWest final by revealing that he had turned down the Lancashire coaching job to stay in Essex.

Lancashire targeted Gooch, a great friend of both Mike Atherton and former coach David Lloyd, after informing current incumbent John Stanworth that he would revert to his previous duties as Cricket Development Officer at the end of the season.

But the 43-year-old turned them down to stay near his family - and to keep on playing.

Gooch had been expected to quit at the end of the season to move into coaching - he is already an England selector, and will manage the A-tour to Australia this winter.

He was linked with both Nottinghamshire, expected to part company with former Lancashire coach Alan Ormrod at the end of the season, and Durham, who have now appointed David Boon. But Gooch said: "Lancashire were the only county to make a firm approach. I had a super dinner with their chairman Bob Bennett.

"They made me a very nice offer and I was very honoured to receive it. But to do the job property I would have had to be away from home most of the time and it would have meant not being able to see my children."

Gooch has also confirmed that he will play one more season with Essex.

Lancashire's search for a coach is now likely to end in Australia. They had also been linked with former South African captain Clive Rice but Aussie names like Rod Marsh, Dennis Lillee and Allan Border could prove nearer the mark.

Meanwhile, former coach David Hughes will be among the first to congratulate Mike Watkinson if he lifts the NatWest Trophy today and becomes only the second captain in history to lead his side to both knockout trophies in one season.

Former Lancashire skipper Hughes is the only man to have achieved the feat when his irrepressible side swept all before them to win both Lord's finals in 1990. But six years and two captains later, Watkinson is ready to join Hughes in the Old Trafford hall of fame.

"If a record is to be equalled or broken I would sooner it be a Lancastrian - I don't want another county to do it," insisted Hughes.

Popular Ramsbottom pro Chris Harris stole the show when an International XI lost to Yorkshire in a one day match at Scarborough. The Kiwi hit an unbeaten 89 and took four for 39 from his 10 overs.

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