Ramps steps into spotlight

Mark Ramprakash averaged over 100 with the bat in the 2006 season © Getty Images

It is a reflection of our celebrity-obsessed society that Mark Ramprakash ended last year more feted for winning a reality television show than for one of the most brilliant seasons in cricketing history.

While his performances on Strictly Come Dancing were certainly creditable, they simply bear no comparison with his achievements at the crease.

For 2006 was Ramprakash's annus mirabilis, when he cemented his place as one of the greatest batsmen ever to grace the county championship.

Only a handful of men had previously completed a full campaign with a three-figure average, while the 37-year-old was the quickest player ever to reach 2,000 first-class runs and became the first to score 150 or more in five consecutive innings in any form of cricket.

Most cricketers go into a season looking to improve on the last, but a typically phlegmatic Ramprakash is refusing to put himself under any such pressure as Surrey gear up for the new term.

"I didn't set out to have a season like that," he said. "First things first, I'll be looking to do what I know works or has worked in other seasons in terms of me playing well."

Mark Ramprakash arrives to pick up his PCA player of the year award © Getty Images

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Unlike most sportsmen, whose powers begin to wane when they reach their mid-30s, Ramprakash appears to be improving with age, something that has earned him the Professional Cricketers' Association player of the year award, acknowledgement as one of Wisden's cricketers of the year, and even prompted talk of an England recall for the Ashes series.

It also secured him a contract with Surrey until the end of 2009.

"That's exactly what I wanted," Ramprakash said. "It will take me up to the age of 39. Surrey's a great place to play. Ever since I moved here, I've always felt it's a very progressive club.

"I enjoy my cricket. I'm still motivated and I want to enjoy the remaining seasons I have left before I have to get a proper job!"

Ramprakash was certainly motivated last year.

The previous season had seen Surrey suffer the ignominy of relegation from County Championship Division One for the first time since a two-tier system was introduced.

Their demise was largely the result of the club being docked eight points for ball tampering in a match while Ramprakash was captain.

However, he refuses to use this as an excuse, claiming a poor work ethic was responsible for what ultimately transpired, something the entire squad were eager to address.

"Each individual had a long think about what they could improve upon," Ramprakash said.

"Our attitudes were a bit more professional and we realised that Surrey is a very talented group of individuals but that doesn't mean a lot if you don't do the hard yards, if you don't do the basics well."

Surrey's spirits were running particularly high in the NatWest Pro40 one-day league matches

They certainly did that, and very nearly made it a double celebration when they missed out on promotion in the one-day league after a shock defeat to Somerset on the final day of the NatWest Pro40 season.

"We were very, very disappointed," said Ramprakash, who is in no doubt Surrey can challenge for silverware on all fronts this season.

"I always feel that, whenever I go into a new season with Surrey, every year I've felt the squad's capable of winning the county championship or one-day trophies because we always feel the level of skill and talent is very, very high."

The form of Ramprakash and the side's other senior men will doubtless play a major part in determining how well his side fares.

But much will depend on some of the club's younger players, who have already given notice of their potential.

"James Benning played very, very well in the one-dayers," Ramprakash said. "He was very important to us in the one-day matches and was a real match-winner opening the batting.

"There is another very talented batsman called Stewart Walters. If he was to get a run in the side, I'm sure he would do very well.

"You've also got to feel the time is right for a young fast bowler.

"Players like Mohammad Akram, Jimmy Ormond and Azhar Mahmood struggle to play every game.

Mark Ramprakash believes seamer Jade Dernbach could do a very good job for Surrey

"So there are definitely opportunities for someone like Jade Dernbach to come in and make an impact, make a name for himself, to say `here I am, pick me, I'm a young bowler'."

One thing appears beyond doubt, it will take a Herculean effort to displace Ramprakash in the side before his contract expires.

But what about playing on beyond 2009?

"Who knows? I suppose when you get to this stage of your career, you're never really sure," Ramprakash said.

"If job opportunities come up then you can't discount anything if other doors open.

"Or it might be that I still fancy a bit longer - I don't know."

That brings us back to the dancing, which may have had benefits other than simply boosting Ramprakash's public profile.

"What emerged from the dancing is that you do need good footwork and you do need agility. There's no doubt that does carry over to batting," he said.

"You're doing something you've never trained for before and you're totally outside your comfort zone. But you know you've gone in there, had a go at it and enjoyed it.

"So it gives you a little bit more confidence and, of course, a different experience from doing cricket for 20 years.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience."

And, like all flights of fancy, there comes the time to get back to doing what you do best.