Come on in Ramps the water's lovely!

[fredfertang]

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/england/content/story/371011.html

Old Trafford perhaps - if we can get rid of the batting deadwood

 

[Richard]

Loye, Law and Francois > Ramps TBH.

 

[stumpski]

I don't understand why somebody who no longer has expectations of being picked for England would be concerned about playing in Division Two - it didn't noticeably bother Graeme Hick. Poor reason for leaving a county (and not, I believe, the only reason he left Middlesex). Surrey should make him captain for next year, that may persuade him to stay.

 

[BoyBrumby]

I don't understand why somebody who no longer has expectations of being picked for England would be concerned about playing in Division Two - it didn't noticeably bother Graeme Hick. Poor reason for leaving a county (and not, I believe, the only reason he left Middlesex). Surrey should make him captain for next year, that may persuade him to stay.

Think you've probably answered your own question. Maybe Ramps still harbours those ambitions.

 

[stumpski]

Possibly - although in recent interviews he appears to have given up hope of a recall, or at least admit it's extremely unlikely - but do the selectors really attach that much more weight to performances in Division One?

 

[BoyBrumby]

Possibly - although in recent interviews he appears to have given up hope of a recall, or at least admit it's extremely unlikely - but do the selectors really attach that much more weight to performances in Division One?

Given Mark's continued absence from the squad (& Mick Vaughan's central contract) I think we can say not much.

Obviously he's slipped a bit in terms of performance from his twin peaks of 2006 & 2007, but he's still averaging comfortably in excess of 60 for the season, which you'd take as a batsman.

 

[stumpski]

Trouble is, the nearer he gets to 40 - and he has less than a year to go - the less likely it becomes. If ever there was a player who didn't have time on his side, it's Ramps. If he were five years younger perhaps he'd still be in with a reasonable chance.

 

[fredfertang]

If I was a tedious b*****d I'd point out that Sir Jack Hobbs scored 100 100's after his 40th birthday - but then he stayed at Surrey!

 

[Woodster]

Don't think Ramps seriously thinks he will ever play for England again, regardless of the division he plays in. But the next best thing is to play in the top flight, so I understand him still wanting to test himself, keep his motivation up. Graeme Hick, having spent do many years at Worcester, must have thought any upheavel was not necessary or wanted at the stage of his career.

However, Ramps still has a year to run on his contract and I don't expect him to leave before then.

 

[Richard]

If I was a tedious b*****d I'd point out that Sir Jack Hobbs scored 100 100's after his 40th birthday - but then he stayed at Surrey!

Bastard isn't (perhaps rather surprisingly) filtered ITBT.

(And Hobbs broke just about every rule in the book of batting where age was concerned, just to add)

 

[Richard]

Possibly - although in recent interviews he appears to have given up hope of a recall, or at least admit it's extremely unlikely - but do the selectors really attach that much more weight to performances in Division One?

Can only speak for myself but I honestly don't give which division runs were scored or figures taken in the slightest of consideration. First-Class cricket is First-Class cricket; there are stronger teams and weaker teams up and down the country but the truth is that the majority of teams in D2 could beat those in D1 as much as those in the same divisions could.

 

[Goughy]

Don't think Ramps seriously thinks he will ever play for England again, regardless of the division he plays in. But the next best thing is to play in the top flight.

Agree completely. He may never play Tests again but to push yourself at his age you need to be playing at the highest level possible. For him, now, that is Div 1.

Seems very reasonable and it isnt like he has not moved Counties before.

 

[Richard]

Odds on him returning to Middlesex zero, presumably?

 

[sledger]

Would welcome him at Hampshire tbh, would add much needed strength to the fragile batting line up, would walk into the side.

 

[GIMH]

Would he want to go there after KP ripped into him recently?

 

[Craig]

Would he want to go there after KP ripped into him recently?

Maybe he has revenge on his minds? If I was KP then I would check the brakes of my car

 

[stumpski]

It's not as if KP is often seen at the Rose Bowl, though. One CC match in the last three seasons.

 

[Craig]

It's not as if KP is often seen at the Rose Bowl, though. One CC match in the last three seasons.

Does KP live in Hampsire or does he live in London (for example) and just drive to a Hampshire game if he is to play? If Ramps were to move to Hampshire, they would surely cross paths at some point.

 

[GIMH]

It's not as if KP is often seen at the Rose Bowl, though. One CC match in the last three seasons.

Too true, he seems to play for his county less than most

 

[Richard]

Well, given few are as regularly engaged in international cricket and as rarely requiring of a chance to find form as he, it's hardly surprising.