London, May 31 :     The flamboyant David Gower?s last England appearance was back in the early 90s, but nobody has replaced him. Probably, nobody ever will. Perhaps, there?s no greater tribute to Gower than the constant yearning, not just in England but across the world of cricket, that there be more of his class. More recently, Gower has made a huge impression in a new career ? presenter and commentator on television. The former England captain remains as graceful as ever. Settled in Hampshire, Gower and wife Thorunn have two daughters ? Alexandra, who will soon be six, and Samantha who turned three the other day. Despite being pressed for time, Gower spoke to The Telegraph at Edgbaston yesterday, before the India versus England World Cup match resumed. Following are excerpts On life after mothballing his flannels (Smiles) It?s been very good. I?ve only recently moved from the BBC to Sky Sports... I had to move where the work is as the BBC failed to keep cricket for the next four years... I enjoy presenting Sky?s international cricket, it?s another step in a fairly new career. Of course, I?m not a full-time columnist, certainly not a cricket one. Frankly, I hate writing but I do have a light-hearted bi-monthly column on wine which appears in the British Airways? internal flights publication. On adjusting to life after cricket Hasn?t at all been a problem, though I agree it?s different. For instance, you can never replicate an on-field performance, that flow of adrenalin will just not be there. Still, there?s a challenge in what I?m doing. You?ve got to get the timing right, you?ve got to choose the right words and make it interesting... Having made a mark as a cricketer, I?m happy my present job allows me to stay close to the game. On whether he finds time to be associated with charities and social work All the time, really, and it doesn?t just involve human beings. In fact, I?m a trustee of the (artist) David Shepherd Conservation Foundation and wildlife conservation has always been dear. I?ve done some work for handicapped children and stay involved with charities in Hampshire. On politics I?m apolitical. After all, most of the time, the politicians just lie... In the last elections, I didn?t even bother to vote... My beliefs, though, would be close to that of the Conservatives. But, like I?ve said, I?m apolitical. On whether he?s admired anybody outside cricket (Laughs) Certainly not a politician. But, yes, I?ve admired somebody like Seve Ballesteros. He?s not been in top form for some years, but he?s the sort of character who gets my admiration ? somebody obviously very talented, but slightly unpredictable and somewhat unorthodox. You aren?t sure what?s going to happen next. In tennis, to take an example, I would pick Illie Nastase and John McEnroe. That?s not to say I would condone everything on the courts, but they were absolute artistes. On whether he himself plays golf and tennis Not golf, but I do enjoy a few sets of tennis... We have a tennis court at home and, come summer, it?s time to use it. I try and drop in at Wimbledon at least once and, as an Englishman, follow Tim Henman?s career with interest. Even Greg Rusedski?s, though he?s an adopted Englishman and the Canadian flag always flutters somewhere in the background. On all of England going ga-ga over Manchester United It?s not my No.1 club ? actually, I don?t have a favourite, but what they?ve achieved is fantastic. Yes, I did watch the Barcelona final, at home, over a quiet supper and a bottle of wine... As a local side means a lot to the local community I do, of course, have some feelings for Southampton, the nearest top-bracket team to where I live. Only, yet again, they were battling to stave off relegation this year. On what he learnt from cricket I started life as a slightly shy individual and it?s cricket that gave me a degree of confidence... Got me to move ahead, made me back myself... That?s the nature of cricket because, in essence, out in the middle you?re alone as a batsman. It?s up to you to work out how to succeed and, then, to make it work. Honestly, that?s a process in life that we all need to learn. Indeed, I keep repeating that sport is multi-beneficial because, to succeed, you don?t just need talent. You?ve got to also have the determination to make that talent work. It?s important to be able to cope with success and failure. Certainly, at the highest level in any sport, your success is well-documented and failures thrown back at you. Well, you?ve got to handle both. On whether labels hurt (Smiles) If you?re given a label early, then nobody bothers to take it off. On having been labelled laidback right through his career Sure, at times I may have been laidback but, after a while, I gave up trying to explain... But, can you succeed if you?re laidback? You then can?t fight those battles, with the opposition and, at times, even with yourself... If I was as casual as some people thought I was, I would have disappeared quite some time ago. Wouldn?t have scored over 8,000 runs and played 117 Test matches. On the one cricketer he admires most It?s an unfair question, because I?ve seen and interacted with so many good players... However, if I have to choose one, I?ll pick Viv Richards.