And so to Tuesday and we’re mightily cheered to have scored a ticket for the first Test at Lord’s on Thursday where the prospect of smiting the Kiwis has receded only a little following The Fred’s side strain.Still, it’s been top quality to see Ryan Sidebottom rewarded for a year of honest endeavour as he’s named England player of the year. For a bowler who was in danger of becoming a one-test wonder, master Sidebottom has matured superbly and is now rightly regarded as the leader of England’s pack. Honest, self-effacing and possessed of one of the great comedy haircuts (and names) of international cricket, he’s a bowler and a sportsman who’s easy to like.
Elsewhere, with Mark ‘Ramps’ Ramprakash closing in on his hundredth hundred delightful old Frank Keating in the Guardian is full of his praises and even suggests he may even be worth a recall to the England side.
We’ve the utmost respect for Mr Keating who we’ve stood shoulder to shoulder alongside the scribblers coalface and is a thoroughly nice bloke but we beg to disagree.
While there’s no doubt Ramps has flourished since his move to Surrey, is one of the most attractive and technically correct batsmen to watch and has been shabbily treated by past regimes - that’s not really enough to merit a call up now.
Like Hick he’s a truly great first-class batsman, but when he was exposed at the highest level, sadly he wasn’t mentally strong enough to cut it and is there any reason to think that’s changed? At 39 he’d keep a younger batsmen out of the game and is Ramps going to be one of our senior players against the Aussies next year? We can’t see it somehow
Incidentally we saw Ramps on his way to the car park during that last fateful game at the Oval after we’d lost to the Kiwis. He had a face like thunder and looked genuinely hurt and ashamed as if he knew it was all over. Arguably Ramps deserved a second chance after scoring a shedload of runs, but that should have come four years ago.
Nope, unfortunately Ramps' glorious return must be confined to his stint on Strictly Come Dancing and just like a beguiling but ultimately unsuitable ex- , it’s better to just never go back.
