"I hope the national selectors were watching." Sourav Ganguly responding to Ramiz Raja's suggestion that he was like a school boy in the field during the Kolkata Knight Riders' stirring defence of a low total against the Delhi Daredevils
There’s an interesting claim by Mike Selvey in this morning’s Guardian: apparently Mark Ramprakash is on the verge of an England recall.
There is a strong rumour doing the rounds that when the England squad to contest the Test series against Sri Lanka is announced tomorrow week, the name of Andrew Strauss will be missing and in its place will be that of Mark Ramprakash. It would, were it to happen, be another stunner in a sporting autumn that already has had more turn-ups than a Savile Row clearance sale.
Only last month, with a strict brief to ensure that selections should anticipate playing a full part in England cricket over the next year, Strauss, already jettisoned from the one-day plans, was awarded a central contract by the chairman of selectors, David Graveney, and the England coach, Peter Moores. Given that in the past year three contracted players in particular - Marcus Trescothick, Ashley Giles and Simon Jones - played little or no cricket for England while receiving sizeable salaries, there would be no shortage of flak heading their way if such an exercise in generosity were to be repeated.
It’s a fascinating suggestion, although personally I don’t think the England selectors will pick him. It’s just not worth their while. If he succeeds, there’ll be the inevitable question of why he wasn’t picked earlier (his excellent Ashes record should have been a factor last year). And the very first time he fails, the critics will come creeping out of the woodwork, accusing England of ‘taking a backwards step’ and ‘holding back’ some promising young batsman or other. And though Ramprakash himself seems less mentally fragile than before, a low score in his first knock might see all those bad memories come flooding back.
If he is picked, it would at least provide us with a definitive verdict on county cricket. If the most prolific county cricketer of his generation couldn’t translate that form into Test success, it might be time to start asking the ECB some probing questions.
I’m a huge Rampers fan but I don’t think he will be picked. The England team have been through some doldrums and the selectors know they have to get the young players in and firing to secure a winning future. Rampers would be a quick fix in a team that isn’t really broken. He is really in his element on the county scene. Leave him there.
Plus, I am selfish. There is nothing better to cheer up a rotten afternoon in the office than listening to a stonking Rampers-Butcher partnership at the Oval commentated by Mark Church from Radio London, which you can hear over the Internet anywhere in the world!
Can’t see it myself which is a shame as on sheer weight of runs, he has to deserve another crack otherwise what’s the point of the county championship? The aussies don’t have a problem with picking older players if they think they’re good enough. Sadly, Ramprakash is a player associated with an era of english cricket we have since surpassed and that might count against him. His expertise alone would be worth a punt but like I say, perhaps wishful thinking?
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