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| Mark Ramprakash: ‘Alastair Cook is very strong. He coped magnificently’ | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| As the seasons change, and another summer slips away on a beautiful September afternoon in London, Mark Ramprakash straps on his pads. He is batting at No3 in a charity match for an invitational side representing the Sick Children’s Trust against the Authors’ Cricket Team at a discreet little ground tucked away in the financial heartland of the City. | |
| Matthew Hoggard, his former England team-mate, drinks a leisurely beer while waiting for his turn to have a hit and giggle before bowling at the Authors. The more concentrated Ramprakash chooses instead to reflect on the end of one sporting life, after 25 years as a professional cricketer, and the start of another as a batting coach working with Middlesex, the England Lions and, this summer, Alastair Cook’s Test and one-day teams. There is excitement in change but, at the same time, his future remains uncertain. | Matthew Hoggard, his former England team-mate, drinks a leisurely beer while waiting for his turn to have a hit and giggle before bowling at the Authors. The more concentrated Ramprakash chooses instead to reflect on the end of one sporting life, after 25 years as a professional cricketer, and the start of another as a batting coach working with Middlesex, the England Lions and, this summer, Alastair Cook’s Test and one-day teams. There is excitement in change but, at the same time, his future remains uncertain. |
| There is still time for Ramprakash to explain what he misses most about cricket. “This has been my first full summer of not playing and it has made me think a lot about cricket. Do I miss the game? Yes. Do I miss the fielding? No. But I do miss batting, the love of batting, the challenge of going out every day and trying to score runs, the pleasure that gives you.” | There is still time for Ramprakash to explain what he misses most about cricket. “This has been my first full summer of not playing and it has made me think a lot about cricket. Do I miss the game? Yes. Do I miss the fielding? No. But I do miss batting, the love of batting, the challenge of going out every day and trying to score runs, the pleasure that gives you.” |
| Ramprakash hit 114 first-class hundreds, only three fewer than Don Bradman, and the different patterns of international cricket today mean that he might well be the last batsman to reach that landmark. A century of first-class hundreds might simply become a nostalgic marker of the past when so much contemporary cricket is limited to Twenty20 and one-day matches. As always with Ramprakash, the sheer weight of his 50,651 runs has to be counterbalanced by a reminder that only two of his hundreds were scored in the 52 Tests he played. That discrepancy between his modest Test record, with an average of 27, and his dizzying exploits in county cricket, where he averaged over 100 in successive seasons in 2006 and 2007, is plain. | Ramprakash hit 114 first-class hundreds, only three fewer than Don Bradman, and the different patterns of international cricket today mean that he might well be the last batsman to reach that landmark. A century of first-class hundreds might simply become a nostalgic marker of the past when so much contemporary cricket is limited to Twenty20 and one-day matches. As always with Ramprakash, the sheer weight of his 50,651 runs has to be counterbalanced by a reminder that only two of his hundreds were scored in the 52 Tests he played. That discrepancy between his modest Test record, with an average of 27, and his dizzying exploits in county cricket, where he averaged over 100 in successive seasons in 2006 and 2007, is plain. |
| But it does not take long to realise how much Ramprakash’s career, with its poignant mix of majesty and vulnerability, has helped him as a relatively young coach at 45. Few others can call on such contrasting personal experience when working with players in rich form or impoverished by doubt. | |
| “I’m definitely learning,” he says of coaching, “and I draw on my own experiences over 25 years. The ups and downs I had define me and I feel lots of empathy with players going through their own ups and downs in a tough old sport. You need to try to impart knowledge without actually telling the player. It’s important to help him think for himself. The real skill is getting that extra few percent out of someone finding life difficult. Sometimes they only need a sentence to remind them how good they are or what they need to think.” | |
| On the surface it seems as if Ramprakash’s new career is on the rise, for he has three different positions, and another in the offing, to juggle and expand his experience. But he is candid and thoughtful when explaining that nothing is certain. It was reported recently that he was on a shortlist for the job as head coach of Sri Lanka – but Ramprakash is cautious. “I was asked whether I would be interested in the Sri Lanka coaching position and I said: ‘I’m happy to hear what the job entails.’ Since that point – about seven weeks ago – I’ve not spoken to anyone from Sri Lanka cricket. So I’m a bit mystified.” | On the surface it seems as if Ramprakash’s new career is on the rise, for he has three different positions, and another in the offing, to juggle and expand his experience. But he is candid and thoughtful when explaining that nothing is certain. It was reported recently that he was on a shortlist for the job as head coach of Sri Lanka – but Ramprakash is cautious. “I was asked whether I would be interested in the Sri Lanka coaching position and I said: ‘I’m happy to hear what the job entails.’ Since that point – about seven weeks ago – I’ve not spoken to anyone from Sri Lanka cricket. So I’m a bit mystified.” |
| Ramprakash laughs but would he like the job as Sri Lanka’s head coach? “Having toured there in January and February with the Lions I’m full of admiration for the Sri Lanka set-up and their passion and energy. I thought their facilities were excellent and they are desperate to keep improving. Sri Lankans realise there are great parts of the country that have a lot of natural talent they have not tapped into yet.” | |
| His contract with Middlesex ends this week and is about to be reviewed, and staying in country cricket, or becoming a full-time England coach, are likelier options. “I’ve enjoyed this summer, even if it’s been a bit ad hoc. I’ve been involved with all the Test matches and the recent one-day series. Peter Moores [England’s head coach] is in the process of deciding what staff he wants, and how many, and there’s a focus on one-day cricket at the moment.” | His contract with Middlesex ends this week and is about to be reviewed, and staying in country cricket, or becoming a full-time England coach, are likelier options. “I’ve enjoyed this summer, even if it’s been a bit ad hoc. I’ve been involved with all the Test matches and the recent one-day series. Peter Moores [England’s head coach] is in the process of deciding what staff he wants, and how many, and there’s a focus on one-day cricket at the moment.” |
| What is the role of Graham Thorpe, who is regarded so highly by the England hierarchy but appears reluctant to commit to a full-time touring schedule? “It’s a very good question” Ramprakash says wryly. “I’m not 100% sure. I think Graham’s official position is that he’s lead batting coach for development – so essentially in charge of the Lions and all development, I think. He was involved in the England one-day side under [the former coach] Ashley Giles and that allowed them to use me [with the Lions]. England are hugely lucky that Andy Flower is still around, Graham is there, and I think they’re looking for fluidity in the coaching system.” | What is the role of Graham Thorpe, who is regarded so highly by the England hierarchy but appears reluctant to commit to a full-time touring schedule? “It’s a very good question” Ramprakash says wryly. “I’m not 100% sure. I think Graham’s official position is that he’s lead batting coach for development – so essentially in charge of the Lions and all development, I think. He was involved in the England one-day side under [the former coach] Ashley Giles and that allowed them to use me [with the Lions]. England are hugely lucky that Andy Flower is still around, Graham is there, and I think they’re looking for fluidity in the coaching system.” |
| It seems strange, from the outside, that such fluidity appears a little confusing – even to Ramprakash. But how did he approach his work with Alastair Cook when the England captain was struggling? “When I first came in for the two Tests against Sri Lanka it was more a case of getting to know Alastair. I really didn’t talk batting much with him as he worked closely with Peter Moores and they built a strong relationship. A lot of players, rightly so, are protective of their environment and when they come under the cosh at any level, especially internationally where so many people pass comment, they rely on one or two trusted voices. | It seems strange, from the outside, that such fluidity appears a little confusing – even to Ramprakash. But how did he approach his work with Alastair Cook when the England captain was struggling? “When I first came in for the two Tests against Sri Lanka it was more a case of getting to know Alastair. I really didn’t talk batting much with him as he worked closely with Peter Moores and they built a strong relationship. A lot of players, rightly so, are protective of their environment and when they come under the cosh at any level, especially internationally where so many people pass comment, they rely on one or two trusted voices. |
| “But in the India series Alastair and I started to get closer and talk more about batting. Alastair is one of the most successful batsmen in England Test history so he can think for himself. Whether it was bouncing ideas off me or Peter, he went away, thought about it and came up with his own solutions. Alastair is very strong and resilient and it was no surprise to see him come through that tough patch. He admits he is an evolving captain and it’s a great strength that he can review things and admit where he went wrong. He coped magnificently given the tidal wave of criticism. You did wonder if there was an agenda against him.” | “But in the India series Alastair and I started to get closer and talk more about batting. Alastair is one of the most successful batsmen in England Test history so he can think for himself. Whether it was bouncing ideas off me or Peter, he went away, thought about it and came up with his own solutions. Alastair is very strong and resilient and it was no surprise to see him come through that tough patch. He admits he is an evolving captain and it’s a great strength that he can review things and admit where he went wrong. He coped magnificently given the tidal wave of criticism. You did wonder if there was an agenda against him.” |
| Cook’s opening batting partner, Sam Robson, is well-known to Ramprakash at Middlesex – and the coach wants to boost his young charge. Robson was not awarded a central ECB contract last week and, after a fitful first Test summer, his place is threatened. “We mustn’t forget that Sam had a huge 12 months,” Ramprakash says. “He had a breakthrough season at Middlesex and then he seamlessly went into the Lions and dominated with five hundreds in six games. He impressed everyone. This summer he had to deal with a debut Test at Lord’s and it can affect different individuals in different ways. To then get a hundred at Headingley was a fantastic achievement in challenging conditions. So that gives him belief he can play at this level. | |
| “But he found it challenging to play five successive Tests against India without any county games between them. In some Tests he batted once and that’s not easy. That may have been a reason why Sam didn’t play with the fluency and certainty I’d seen 12 months ago. But he’ll come out of this patch. He’s 24 and still developing.” | |
| Ramprakash has the look of a coach determined to help an emerging batsman like Robson – while also celebrating Gary Ballance’s much more assured impact . “I’m a big fan of Gary’s. I was lucky enough to coach him with the Lions the previous two winters and he just gives the impression of calm and control at the crease. The decision to bat him at No3 might have raised some eyebrows, but he showed emphatically that he has the technique and temperament to handle that role. | Ramprakash has the look of a coach determined to help an emerging batsman like Robson – while also celebrating Gary Ballance’s much more assured impact . “I’m a big fan of Gary’s. I was lucky enough to coach him with the Lions the previous two winters and he just gives the impression of calm and control at the crease. The decision to bat him at No3 might have raised some eyebrows, but he showed emphatically that he has the technique and temperament to handle that role. |
| “I loved the way Gary stayed hungry all summer. His consistency and preparation, his decision-making at the crease, mean he should be very proud of himself. The Lions environment has to be praised when you see the emergence of Ballance, [Joe] Root and [Jos] Buttler. They are very exciting – and not just in terms of the way they hit the ball but their temperament. I admire the way England support players. That’s why these young players seem so mature.” | “I loved the way Gary stayed hungry all summer. His consistency and preparation, his decision-making at the crease, mean he should be very proud of himself. The Lions environment has to be praised when you see the emergence of Ballance, [Joe] Root and [Jos] Buttler. They are very exciting – and not just in terms of the way they hit the ball but their temperament. I admire the way England support players. That’s why these young players seem so mature.” |
| Would Ramprakash have been much more confident for England if he’d had such support? “Yes. But there are many individuals who shone irrespective of that. I was proud to play in my era. It was tough but I can sleep at night because I know I tried my best. | Would Ramprakash have been much more confident for England if he’d had such support? “Yes. But there are many individuals who shone irrespective of that. I was proud to play in my era. It was tough but I can sleep at night because I know I tried my best. |
| “When I came in we just had Micky Stewart as head coach – there was no batting coach, no psychologist. I made my Test debut in 1991 and it wasn’t until 1998 that I bumped into the sports psychologist Steve Bull. There was a significant shift in my career from that point on. He gave me a way to structure my thoughts and handle my emotions. I had struggled in Test cricket because I worried about too many things but those personal experiences have made me a better coach.” | |
| The match in the City has started and Ramprakash, who has been padded up a long while, is relaxed. He admits he gets stopped in the street primarily because he once won Strictly Come Dancing rather than for his cricket. And, as an essentially shy man, “I’m not the greatest with it. I’m not a natural at enjoying that kind of recognition.” | The match in the City has started and Ramprakash, who has been padded up a long while, is relaxed. He admits he gets stopped in the street primarily because he once won Strictly Come Dancing rather than for his cricket. And, as an essentially shy man, “I’m not the greatest with it. I’m not a natural at enjoying that kind of recognition.” |
| He is still happiest when batting and, while he has played only a few charity matches this year, he remembers his previous innings with a quiet smile. “It was the first time I hit six 6s in an over. There was a hurricane blowing down one end of the pitch near Leeds and this very nice non-turning off-break bowler came on. He was bowling into the hurricane and he was very unfortunate.” | |
| Ramprakash eventually walks to the crease for the Sick Children’s Trust, a charity which supports families with seriously ill children in hospital. He and his fellow cricketers raise £64,500 for the Trust and Ramprakash bats like a dream. He hits a dazzling 126 before retiring to allow his team-mates a chance to bat. | Ramprakash eventually walks to the crease for the Sick Children’s Trust, a charity which supports families with seriously ill children in hospital. He and his fellow cricketers raise £64,500 for the Trust and Ramprakash bats like a dream. He hits a dazzling 126 before retiring to allow his team-mates a chance to bat. |
| As the shadows lengthen, and remembering again his own glorious and disappointing experiences as a cricketer, Ramprakash concedes that “there is uncertainty and for me that’s not easy. I like to know and to plan. So it’s not straightforward at the moment. Hopefully I will hear if England need me in the next week. I like to think I could do a good job alongside Peter Moores.” | As the shadows lengthen, and remembering again his own glorious and disappointing experiences as a cricketer, Ramprakash concedes that “there is uncertainty and for me that’s not easy. I like to know and to plan. So it’s not straightforward at the moment. Hopefully I will hear if England need me in the next week. I like to think I could do a good job alongside Peter Moores.” |