'I've walked a fine line between being competitive and it boiling over'
Mark Ramprakash has ruled the shires for five years but is now reaching the end of his long playing career. He talks about the past, present and future
Interview by Sam Pilger
31-Oct-2009
The county colossus: "the selectors' impression of me is stuck in the past" • Getty Images
"So often when my name and career are spoken about it is in a negative manner. I actually have
to keep reminding myself that I am really very proud of what I have achieved in the game."
Having turned 40 in September, Ramprakash recently published his autobiography Strictly Me, which is his counter-attack to redress the balance and take control of his legacy in the game.
Don't expect any Trescothick-style soul baring. Ramprakash does not allow you inside his head to see the anguish he must have felt at failing to fulfill his enormous potential in Test cricket, and there remain traces of bitterness at his belief that a succession of English coaches failed to exploit his prodigious talent properly.
But it would be wrong for Ramprakash to be defined solely by his Test career. He could have scuttled away from the game long ago but he has relentlessly accumulated runs for Surrey and become only the 25th batsman in the history of the game to score a hundred first-class centuries. His is a career to be celebrated now, not pitied.
While admitting he can come across as aloof, in person Ramprakash proves good company, charming and expansive and seemingly no longer tortured by earlier failures. He believes he is now a contented man, ready to assume an elder-statesman role in the game and to reflect on his life in cricket so far.
How have you achieved such longevity?
I suppose I have good genes, but above all else it is an overwhelming love for the game. The players who started at the same time as me have retired a long time ago because they don't have that same love. My experience has kept me going as well because eight times out of 10 when I go out to bat I'm not feeling as good as I would like, I am not middling the ball, the feet aren't moving; but experience helps you deal with it.
I suppose I have good genes, but above all else it is an overwhelming love for the game. The players who started at the same time as me have retired a long time ago because they don't have that same love. My experience has kept me going as well because eight times out of 10 when I go out to bat I'm not feeling as good as I would like, I am not middling the ball, the feet aren't moving; but experience helps you deal with it.
How has the county game changed in the last 20 years?
When I started, the bowling was faster. Back then there was an amazing conveyor belt of West Indians, so every team would have a bowler who could bowl at 90mph. Now there are few bowlers who can push you on the back foot. With the slow pitches, too, it can be very, very hard work for the bowlers.
When I started, the bowling was faster. Back then there was an amazing conveyor belt of West Indians, so every team would have a bowler who could bowl at 90mph. Now there are few bowlers who can push you on the back foot. With the slow pitches, too, it can be very, very hard work for the bowlers.
And how would you assess the present quality of spin bowling?
In my formative years there were a lot of spinners, like Vic Marks, Eddie Hemmings, Nick Cook, obviously Phil Edmonds and John Emburey, David Graveney himself. It is very hard to be a young spinner now because you get lashed around with short boundaries, quick outfields and big bats. We have to nurture the spinners more.
In my formative years there were a lot of spinners, like Vic Marks, Eddie Hemmings, Nick Cook, obviously Phil Edmonds and John Emburey, David Graveney himself. It is very hard to be a young spinner now because you get lashed around with short boundaries, quick outfields and big bats. We have to nurture the spinners more.
Does "Bloodaxe" still lurk within or is he long gone?
Angus Fraser gave me that name because when I was younger I was ambitious, and if things weren't going my way, I would get frustrated. But as you get older you learn more about yourself, and I have been better behaved in my 30s. I have always walked a fine line between being very competitive and it boiling over.
Angus Fraser gave me that name because when I was younger I was ambitious, and if things weren't going my way, I would get frustrated. But as you get older you learn more about yourself, and I have been better behaved in my 30s. I have always walked a fine line between being very competitive and it boiling over.
"The selectors have said to me the door is always open but it appears to be closed. People say to me all the time, 'Ramps, how come you're not being selected, you have scored over 6000 runs in the last four years and averaging over 90?' It seems unfair"
Who have been the biggest influences on you as a player?
My idol was Viv Richards and I remember him approaching me once in the pavilion when we were playing West Indies. I was upset at how things were going and he told me: "You have got everything as a player but there is clearly something missing." I asked him what and he just said: "Belief." That was so perceptive without even knowing me. To hear him say that was powerful but it didn't sink in for five years. I had a lot of self-confidence until I was 21 but after a tough start in Test cricket, my confidence began to ebb away and then it came back years later.
My idol was Viv Richards and I remember him approaching me once in the pavilion when we were playing West Indies. I was upset at how things were going and he told me: "You have got everything as a player but there is clearly something missing." I asked him what and he just said: "Belief." That was so perceptive without even knowing me. To hear him say that was powerful but it didn't sink in for five years. I had a lot of self-confidence until I was 21 but after a tough start in Test cricket, my confidence began to ebb away and then it came back years later.
In your book you say: "An encouraging word [from the England coaches] would have made
all the difference but there was no support, no communication." How much did that hinder you
as a Test player?
I don't want to make excuses for not playing well for England. I had lots of opportunities, I tried my best at the time, so I am happy in that knowledge. But, if you look back and analyse it and compare the set-up of the England side in the early 1990s to now, there are big differences in the way new players are welcomed and integrated. I was just left on my own to get on with it but now England are aware of the pressures and they do everything to help new players.
I don't want to make excuses for not playing well for England. I had lots of opportunities, I tried my best at the time, so I am happy in that knowledge. But, if you look back and analyse it and compare the set-up of the England side in the early 1990s to now, there are big differences in the way new players are welcomed and integrated. I was just left on my own to get on with it but now England are aware of the pressures and they do everything to help new players.
Did you ever seriously think you might be recalled for the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval this summer?
No, because the selectors did not seem open to the idea of recalling me. And that was disappointing. After being dropped in 2002 I went back to Surrey, continued to work hard, scored runs and developed as a person but the selectors' impression of me is stuck in the past and I have been tagged unfairly. They are out of date in their opinions, they talk about me as if it is 1995 and I have not had success at Test level - but I have. The selectors have said to me that the door is always open but it appears to be closed. People say to me all the time, "Ramps, how come you're not being selected, you have scored over 6000 runs in the last four years and averaging over 90?" It seems unfair.
No, because the selectors did not seem open to the idea of recalling me. And that was disappointing. After being dropped in 2002 I went back to Surrey, continued to work hard, scored runs and developed as a person but the selectors' impression of me is stuck in the past and I have been tagged unfairly. They are out of date in their opinions, they talk about me as if it is 1995 and I have not had success at Test level - but I have. The selectors have said to me that the door is always open but it appears to be closed. People say to me all the time, "Ramps, how come you're not being selected, you have scored over 6000 runs in the last four years and averaging over 90?" It seems unfair.
But you have said you wouldn't swap winning Strictly Come Dancing for the chance of playing another Test? Really?
Yes, that's true, I wouldn't swap it because I had such a wonderful time on Strictly. I had done cricket for 20 years, so going on the show took me out of my comfort zone. It will stay with me for life.
Yes, that's true, I wouldn't swap it because I had such a wonderful time on Strictly. I had done cricket for 20 years, so going on the show took me out of my comfort zone. It will stay with me for life.
Did you look at Jonathan Trott making a century at The Oval and think you could have done that as well?
He played with a calm assurance you rarely see in a debutant, so credit to them for choosing him. What it does say about Trott is, he has done his time in county cricket, which often gets criticised. I would have loved to have had another go myself. I was ready.
He played with a calm assurance you rarely see in a debutant, so credit to them for choosing him. What it does say about Trott is, he has done his time in county cricket, which often gets criticised. I would have loved to have had another go myself. I was ready.
Was it a shame the selectors chose a South African-born player in Trott and not someone nurtured in England?
Yes. All English supporters want English players to play for England and by that I mean someone either born here or who has come through the education system. I have heard it mentioned in football as well. There is talk that [Arsenal's] Manuel Almunia might play for England and plenty of supporters come on the radio and say: "No. He's Spanish."
Yes. All English supporters want English players to play for England and by that I mean someone either born here or who has come through the education system. I have heard it mentioned in football as well. There is talk that [Arsenal's] Manuel Almunia might play for England and plenty of supporters come on the radio and say: "No. He's Spanish."
After England's batsmen scored only two centuries in the Ashes, how can they improve and make bigger scores?
I am a big fan of Ravi Bopara. He is going to be a very good player but I never really fancied him at No. 3. He is at the start of his career, so batting three puts him under pressure. I would have eased him in at five or six. I am a big supporter of Ian Bell too. Technically he is good and there is more to come. Paul Collingwood's place is under discussion with Trott playing so well.
I am a big fan of Ravi Bopara. He is going to be a very good player but I never really fancied him at No. 3. He is at the start of his career, so batting three puts him under pressure. I would have eased him in at five or six. I am a big supporter of Ian Bell too. Technically he is good and there is more to come. Paul Collingwood's place is under discussion with Trott playing so well.
Which county player would you tip to break next into the England side?
When the selectors look at county cricket it is important everyone starts from a level playing field. Michael Carberry has played extremely well for Hampshire, scored a lot of runs, but his name was not mentioned to play at The Oval. It would appear that it is a good time to play for Warwickshire. I am not suggesting that there is anything unfair going on but you have a selector in Ashley Giles who is also a county coach. That is a position England have to be careful with because it can lead to accusations of favouritism.
When the selectors look at county cricket it is important everyone starts from a level playing field. Michael Carberry has played extremely well for Hampshire, scored a lot of runs, but his name was not mentioned to play at The Oval. It would appear that it is a good time to play for Warwickshire. I am not suggesting that there is anything unfair going on but you have a selector in Ashley Giles who is also a county coach. That is a position England have to be careful with because it can lead to accusations of favouritism.
You called the treatment of Monty Panesar "scandalous"...
Yes. Monty has six five-wicket hauls in Test cricket and he has won Test matches for England, yet all I seem to hear is what Monty can't do. I don't believe other players get treated that way. There is a lack of understanding of spin bowling. This was reinforced when Adil Rashid performed so well in the first one-day game against Australia but was left out of the following matches. There are other players who can have lengthy poor patches but somehow they seem to be in the 'In Club' in the England set-up and continually get to play.
Yes. Monty has six five-wicket hauls in Test cricket and he has won Test matches for England, yet all I seem to hear is what Monty can't do. I don't believe other players get treated that way. There is a lack of understanding of spin bowling. This was reinforced when Adil Rashid performed so well in the first one-day game against Australia but was left out of the following matches. There are other players who can have lengthy poor patches but somehow they seem to be in the 'In Club' in the England set-up and continually get to play.
What changes would you like to see at county level?
One radical idea, which I don't see happening, is to create nine regional teams and pair counties together, so you could create a London side from Middlesex and Surrey, pair together Essex and Kent, while creating a Manchester side, a Birmingham side and so on. You would produce a strong competition, one in which you would have to perform at your best in every game.
One radical idea, which I don't see happening, is to create nine regional teams and pair counties together, so you could create a London side from Middlesex and Surrey, pair together Essex and Kent, while creating a Manchester side, a Birmingham side and so on. You would produce a strong competition, one in which you would have to perform at your best in every game.
How much longer will you go on playing?
I know I have two years left on my contract but enjoyment is a big thing for me at my age and it hasn't been very enjoyable lately with Surrey bringing up the rear and losing a lot of games. No longer playing cricket is a scary thought, without a doubt. It has been my life since I was 17, so being without it and dealing with the transition will be difficult. Going into a career in coaching could help.
I know I have two years left on my contract but enjoyment is a big thing for me at my age and it hasn't been very enjoyable lately with Surrey bringing up the rear and losing a lot of games. No longer playing cricket is a scary thought, without a doubt. It has been my life since I was 17, so being without it and dealing with the transition will be difficult. Going into a career in coaching could help.
This article first appeared in the November 2009 issue of the Wisden Cricketer. Subscribe here