Cricket Diary: Ramps' class is permanent

By Richard Gibson

Even in his 40s, Mark Ramprakash getting dropped by Surrey was unthinkable 12 months ago – and highly unlikely on face value on the very day he bagged only his second pair in 26 seasons as a County Championship batsman - and just a third in all cricket.

Afterwards, Surrey team director Chris Adams backed veteran Ramps to clamber out of his uncharacteristic slump in form – which has seen him average just 7.5 in first-class cricket this season – suggesting that he would be retained for this week’s match against Somerset.

“That’s cricket, isn’t it? Form is temporary, class is forever,” Adams insisted, at the close of the third day against Worcestershire at New Road. “Mark Ramprakash is a class act, a class player, and his form will return. I back it to return the next time he walks out.

“Clearly, no player wants to go through what he’s gone through – to bag a pair you wonder where your next score is coming from. But they say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. That’s cricket, that’s sport. It happens.”

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It is nearly half a century since England and West Indies first contested the Wisden Trophy, donated by John Wisden & Co to the MCC and West Indies Cricket Board in 1963 to mark the famous yellow Almanack’s 100th anniversary.

And it is a good bet that the feats of the great West Indies teams in blackwashing England in the 1970s and 80s are recognised in some capacity when Wisden names cricket’s Ten Moments In Time, to commemorate its 150th edition in 2013.

Readers will have their chance to nominate their own versions and the three closest to the actual list will win £100 in book vouchers.

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John Wright’s imminent departure as New Zealand coach stems from an unspecified difference of opinion with the country’s director of cricket John Buchanan.

However, it wouldn’t take the hiring of a supersleuth to come up with a plausible answer, as one line from Wright in the official press release announcing his exit this August suggested he was not comfortable with the recruitment of players born overseas.

“I am grateful to New Zealand Cricket for the opportunity to coach the national team,” he said. “I had always wanted to coach New Zealand cricketers for New Zealanders and it has been a tremendous privilege for me.”

There has been an influx of South African-born cricketers in recent times with uncapped fast bowler Neil Wagner named alongside wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk for the Test tour of West Indies in July and August. Grant Elliott is another who turned his back on his homeland and qualified on grounds of residency five years ago.

Yes, the rise to prominence of van Wyk and Wagner has coincided with the short reign of Wright - who has won three and lost three of his nine Tests to date as coach, and guided New Zealand to the World Cup semi-finals in 2011 – but perhaps more significantly the tenure of Kim Littlejohn, formerly an administrator of Bowls Australia, as national selection manager.

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Mitchell Starc left the other half of Australian cricket’s first couple behind as he jetted back down under to complete the correct visa to enable him to join Yorkshire as an overseas player.

Left-arm fast bowler Starc was forced to return to Canberra to re-submit his application which meant his Australia international girlfriend Alyssa Healy, niece of Ian Healy, was left to familiarise herself with the delights of Leeds.

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Martin van Jaarsveld’s on-off relationship with county cricket has seen him join Glamorgan, or the Welsh Dragons as they will be known in limited-overs action this summer, as a Friends Life t20 specialist - but only after offering his services to Leicestershire for a second time.

Van Jaarsveld, 37, quit Kent last September to join Leicestershire but announced his retirement from the English scene two months later, so concerned was he over the dip in form that led to blobs both while batting and in the field.

Soon afterwards, however, he re-found his touch, subsequently led Titans to four-day and Twenty20 titles in his native South Africa, and regained sufficient enthusiasm to carry on.

With that in mind, he approached the Grace Road hierarchy once more but, with their player recruitment budget already taken by the signings of Ramnaresh Sarwan and Abdul Razzaq, moved to Cardiff with their blessing.

*Follow me on Twitter @richardgibson74

 

Date: 16/05/2012 12:04:32 by Richard Gibson
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