A TRIBUTE TO 'OUR RAMPS'
By James Wheeler
Surrey batsman Mark Ramprakash retired from the professional game at the start of July after 25 years in the professional games. Ramps who as a junior, was a part of the Bessborough Colts system scored a total of 50,651 runs in all competitions which was only bettered by 13 players in the history game and he is also the a member of the exclusive ‘hundred hundred club’. Bessboroughcc.com Editor James Wheeler pays tribute to the finest batsman of his generation.
So we say farewell to Ramps after 25 years at the top of the game in England. Only 13 players in the history of the game scored more runs than him and he is the newest and will probably be the final batsman to score a hundred first class hundreds. Sachin Tendulkar is currently on 79 first class hundreds (the most by active player). Ramps’ 114 first class centuries over a 25-year period is a feat that shows incredible consistency matched with exceptional longevity in the tough and demanding world that is county cricket.
There are many reasons why Ramps didn’t score the volume of runs at International level that he did domestically. I think nobody can argue that the strength of bowling attacks were a lot stronger when Ramps was playing for England. Every side playing Test Cricket in 2012 had a stronger attack in 1990s especially the pace bowlers. Ramps had to start his career against the likes of Ambrose, Walsh, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, McDermott and McGrath.
The 1990s was an era of chop and change for England’s Test batsman. In his 92 innings for England at Test Match level he filled every slot between Opening and Number 7 but he never batted for more than seven consecutive innings in one position in the order. Even more bizarre was the decision of the selectors in 2000 to ask Ramps open against the West Indies, a position that he had never batted in at county level.
Also the invention of central contracts was years’ away and the inconsistency of the England selection panel was mind boggling. In 1999, two Tests after being considered for the England Captaincy he was informed by Chairman of Selectors David Graveney that he was to be dropped. This is probably the best example of inconsistency of the ECB.
Ramps joined the Borough as a colt from local rivals Parkfield and spent his crucial early teens playing for our Junior side alongside another Bessborough legend Andy Carr. Ramps developed his game under the coaching of current Club President Graham Sainsbury. He was one of the youngest ever players to become a regular in our first team and began slaying club attacks from an early age.
He made his debut for Middlesex in 1987 and in the first big match of his career he won the Man of the Match Award in the Nat West Trophy Final with an impressive 56 as he led Middlesex to victory over Worcestershire in a very tight, low scoring final.
He made his Test Debut in 1991 against one of the great West Indian sides and he was faced by a pace attack that was led by Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, Patrick Patterson and the late great Malcolm Marshall. He made 27 twice in the match and also snared a spectacular catch at point to dismiss the dangerous Phil Simmons.
During his first series against the West Indies he never once got past the 20's although he showed glimpses of his class and technique. Ramps was effectively mucked around by the selectors for next seven years (along with Hick, a player who's talent and career are strikingly similar).
The high points of this seven year spell would be the endless plundering of county bowling attacks and two brilliant Test fifties against the 'old enemy' Australia. The first a 64 in the second innings of Sixth Test in the 1993 Ashes helped England to a tight consolation win at the end of that series.
The other was an excellent 72 against Australia during England's 1994-95 Ashes Tour in the Fifth Test at the WACA Ground in Perth, the fastest ground in the World. Ramps put on 158 with Graham Thorpe to rescue England from 77-4 to a respectable 295.
His breakthrough knock came in Barbados in March 1998 when he scored a fantastic maiden century against a resurgent West Indies attack. His 388 ball 154 anchored the England innings and this gave Mark a chance to establish himself in the England side. He topped the England averages in that series, scoring 266 runs at 66.50.
England's tour of Australia in 1998-99 was Ramps best tour in terms of runs and scores. He scored four fifties in the series, topping England's averages with an impressive 379 runs at 47.37. He scored two of his fifties in the stifling heat of Adelaide (61 & 57). He also took one of the best catches of his career in the Fourth Test in Melbourne. With Australia looking well set in their chase of 175, Ramps fielding at square leg dived and caught Justin Langer off the bowling of Alan Mullally. His catch lifted the England side as we eventually triumphed by a mere 12 runs.
Ramps continued to be in and out the side in the following year and was recalled for the Second Test for the 2001 Ashes. During the series he kept getting starts without going on to get a big score. This was until the final test of the summer when he scored his first and only Test hundred in England. Ramps made 133 in an innings that showcased all his shots and talent.
He was in and out of the side for the next couple of years and he played his final test to in April 2002 against New Zealand at Auckland. Since that game in Auckland, Ramps turned himself into the most prolific County run machine of the modern era. He scored a staggering 58 first-class hundreds for Surrey since being dropped by England in 2002 until retirement in July 2012.
His achievements at county level are hugely impressive. He is the only batsmen in the history of the game to score hundreds against all 18 first class counties, a record he achieved in 2005 with a hundred against his old county Middlesex. He is also the only player in the history of the game to captain both Middlesex and Surrey.
He has been a member of three County Championship winning sides (twice with Middlesex), he's won the Nat West Trophy and the Benson & Hedges Cup once each, the Sunday League twice (once with Middlesex) and he was a key member of the Surrey side that won the first Twenty20 Cup in 2003.
In 2006 he scored a massive 2,278 runs, averaged over 100 and made his highest score of 301 not out and was awarded the Professional Cricketers' Association Player of the Year award, by his fellow pro's. A year later he once again topped the First Class averages. He scored a staggering 2026 runs at 101.30 with 10 hundreds. It was a amazing effort and one that nearly regained him his England place for the tour of Sri Lanka in November 2007. He also averaged over 50 in limited overs cricket.
Mark has also found fame on TV winning the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2006 with dance partner Karen Hardy with his performances bringing him new legions of fans.
In 2009 he continued to belt County attacks and with England needing to win the Fifth Test of the Ashes series, there was talk in the media about a recall for Ramps but the selectors eventually went for Jonathan Trott who scored a century.
He struggled at the start of this season for Surrey and was harshly dropped by the selectors. Despite his struggles this summer, he desperately wanted to play on for Surrey until his contract expired in September and help the team cope with the trauma of Tom Maynard’s tragic death and captain Rory Hamilton-Brown taking a break. However it wasn’t to be with Surrey choosing a different path.
To watch Ramps at the crease was to watch a true great batsman. He was a batsman who I wanted to bat like. Beautifully balanced at the crease, with resolute defence and excellent attack. One of the best sights in World Cricket was a Ramps cover drive.
Everybody at Bessborough Cricket Club would like to wish Ramps a happy retirement. He is always more than welcome to pop down the Borough for a drink and chat and even possibly a game! I am sure he will continue to serve our great game in some capacity, possibly as a commentator with his work on the IPL with ITV and with domestic cricket with Sky Sports.
Whatever the future holds, I am sure we haven’t seen the last of Ramps.
Career Span 1987-2012
|
Test
|
52
|
92
|
6
|
2350
|
154
|
27.32
|
2
|
12
|
39
|
|
ODI
|
18
|
18
|
4
|
376
|
51
|
26.85
|
-
|
1
|
8
|
|
FC
|
461
|
764
|
93
|
35659
|
301*
|
53.14
|
114
|
147
|
261
|
|
List A
|
407
|
394
|
64
|
13273
|
147*
|
40.22
|
17
|
85
|
137
|
Bowling
|
Test
|
52
|
895
|
477
|
4
|
1-2
|
119.25
|
3.19
|
|
ODI
|
18
|
132
|
108
|
4
|
3-28
|
27
|
4.90
|
|
FC
|
461
|
4177
|
2202
|
34
|
3-32
|
64.76
|
3.16
|
|
List A
|
407
|
1734
|
1354
|
46
|
5-38
|
29.43
|
4.68
|