David Cameron wanted Darren Gough to stand as Tory candidate

The former England cricketer Darren Gough turned down a personal invitation from David Cameron to stand for parliament in the forthcoming byelection in Barnsley, his home town.

The prime minister rang the fast bowler to make the overture – but Gough is said to have thought it a prank and hung up, with a Tory MP having to ring him back to confirm the offer was serious.

Cameron was said to have taken up the idea after local party members suggested Gough be asked. He declined the offer, but has offered to campaign for whoever is selected to fight the seat for the Conservatives.

The Barnsley Central byelection will take place on 3 March. The seat has been vacated by Eric Illsley, who this week resigned from the Commons and faces sentencing for misdemeanours over expenses.

Barnsley is a safe Labour seat, but the Conservatives are under pressure to show they will fight the byelection seriously after a "soft-pedalling" of efforts in Oldham East & Saddleworth to allow the Lib Dem coalition partners a free hit incensed many backbenchers.

The Tories will announce their candidate imminently. Illsley retained the seat at the last general election with a majority of more than 11,000

Gough, who has 229 wickets and 58 international tests to his name, retired from top-level cricket in 2008. He is said to have declined the chance to represent Barnsley Central because he feared he could not combine his continuing professional sporting commitments with political work. He won Strictly Come Dancing in 2005.

A Conservative party spokesman said: "Darren Gough is a supporter of the party and will be taking part in the campaign for Barnsley. He will not be standing as an MP, however."

A No 10 source told the Sun newspaper: "The PM's a big fan. They ... had a very good conversation."