Ramps lands players' award

26 September 2006

Mark Ramprakash arrives to collect his award at the dinner in London © Getty Images

Surrey batsman Mark Ramprakash was named the Professional Cricketers' Association player of the year after a season in which he emulated the great Sir Donald Bradman.

Ramprakash scored 2,278 first-class runs at an incredible average of 103.54 to help Surrey win promotion back to Division One of the Liverpool Victoria County Championship.

He twice extended his career best with innings of 292 against Gloucestershire and 301 against Northamptonshire, one of four successive matches in which he passed 100.

It was only the sixth occasion a batsman had averaged more than 100 in first-class cricket in an English summer.

Bradman first achieved the feat in 1938 and has since been followed by Geoffrey Boycott twice, Graham Gooch and Damien Martyn.

“I am delighted with the way things have gone this year,” said Ramprakash.

“I really want to thank my Surrey team-mates and, in particular, the coach Alan Butcher, who has taken the time to get to know me.

“Things just clicked for me this year. I don't know why really. You work hard every year but sometimes things do just click and this was a good year.”

Ramprakash was the only player to top 2,000 runs for the season in first-class cricket

Ramprakash beat fellow nominees Mushtaq Ahmed, the leg-spinner who took 102 wickets as Sussex won the championship, Hampshire's John Crawley and England batsman Ian Bell.

Alastair Cook was voted the PCA young player of the year for the second season running.

The Essex and England batsman made a century on his Test debut in India last winter.

Cook, who scored a double hundred against Australia while playing for Essex during a tour match at Chelmsford last summer, is relishing the chance to face the likes of Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee on the bouncy surfaces Down Under when the Ashes starts in November.

“Bring it on,” he said. “I am sure we can bring the Ashes home.”

Cook won the award - voted for by his fellow players and presented at a gala dinner in London - ahead of promising fast bowler Stuart Broad, wicket-keeper Steven Davies and new England cult hero Monty Panesar.

The England and Wales Cricket Board’s special award went to David English, who started the famous Bunbury Cricket Club 20 years ago and has seen the likes of Cook and Bell graduate to full Test honours.

Bell collected the Slazenger sheer instinct award and Cameron White was rewarded for topping the Sky Sports sixes league.

Middlesex were honoured for their adherence to the spirit of cricket, while Neil Mallender won the umpire of the year award and former Warwickshire batsman and chief executive Dennis Amiss the special merit award.