Ramprakash tells England: I’m all yours
MARK RAMPRAKASH last night issued a “come and get me” plea to the England selectors on the day his rivals for a batting spot in next week’s Ashes decider flopped on their county returns.
The 39-year-old averages an impressive 100.75 with the bat for Surrey this season and is being strongly linked with a return to the Test arena for the crucial fifth Test at The Oval.
Indeed, calls for Ramprakash to be given the nod gathered further pace yesterday when under-fire middle order duo Ravi Bopara and Ian Bell failed in their quest for much-needed runs in the County Championship.
Both were skittled out for just one in their respective games for Essex and Warwickshire, adding to the similar failures of opener Alastair Cook (4) and fifth Test hopeful Jonathan Trott (15).
Ramprakash smashed 134no in his last County Championship match, against Derbyshire, on Sunday – his 108th first-class century – but was back in one-day mode for Surrey last night, hitting a run-a-ball 24 in their Pro40 League clash with Glamorgan.
Ramprakash made the last of his 52 Test appearances back in 2002, but although he averages over 40 against Australia, many feel he never fulfilled his potential on the Test scene.
The veteran, however, insists he has improved with age and says he is ready and willing for the chance to prove his critics wrong on the biggest stage of them all. “I’ve seen a few comments and one or two articles talking about that and I think it’s fair for me to respond in that I think it’s a little bit out of date,” Ramprakash said. “If I had known ten years ago what I know now then I’d have been in a much better position to do whatever I wanted to do.
“I still feel as though I’ve kept improving as a player so for me to be part of a fantastic occasion here is a great opportunity and you would really relish the challenge.”
HOW RAMPS’ RIVALS FARED
ALASTAIR COOK
England’s regular opener should still retain his place despite facing just five balls before being trapped lbw by Middlesex’s Tim Murtagh for four
PICK HIM? YES
RAVI BOPARA
Coming in at three after Cook’s dismissal, Bopara also fell to Murtagh on the final ball before lunch, edging to Murali Kartik at second slip for one
PICK HIM? NO
IAN BELL
Warwickshire No3 lasted just six balls before edging a delivery from England colleague Ryan Sidebottom to Notts wicket-keeper Chris Read for just one
PICK HIM? NO
JONATHAN TROTT
Warwickshire batsman fared the best of the quartet, hitting 15 runs in 16 balls before finding Australian Adam Voges from the bowling of Charlie Schrek
PICK HIM? NO