LONDON, July 20: England's highest Test scorer Graham Gooch will retire from first-class cricket this week after a disheartening start to the season, it was reported today.

Gooch, a former England captain and now a national selector, will begin his last match for Essex against Worcestershire this Wednesday, the day before his 44th birthday. The match ends on Friday.

``I'm feeling pretty sad at the moment,'' Gooch told the Sunday tabloid News of the World.

``I was sad when I had to decide my England days were over and coming to terms with the fact my playing career is finished completely has been even harder.''

Gooch, who scored 8,900 runs in 118 Tests before retiring from Test cricket two years ago, is the third-highest Test scorer of all time behind Australia's Alan Border (11,174 in 156 Tests) and India's Sunil Gavaskar (10,122 in 125 Tests).

He was the leading English scorer in county cricket last season, but so far this year he has averaged just 23.86 in 16 innings.

``I wouldn't say I've lost it, but it's not happening for me at the moment,'' said Gooch. ``I've too much respect for what I've achieved just to hang on.

``The time has come to go. All good things come to an end.''

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.