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Mark Ramprakash announces retirement from cricket

Last updated on .From the section Cricketcomments48

Mark Ramprakash

Mark Ramprakash has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, ending a 25-year career.

The 42-year-old batsman made his first-class debut for Middlesex in 1987 aged 17 and spent the last 12 years of his career at Surrey.

He averaged 53.14 in 461 first-class appearances and played 52 Tests and 18 one-day internationals for England.

"I would like to express how lucky I feel to have had such a long career," Ramprakash told BBC London 94.9.

He added: "It's been a long time and you never think the day will come when you have to hang up your boots.

"It's not hit me yet. You spend your whole life trying to be as good as you can, then you don't have to do that anymore, but hopefully new opportunities and new challenges are ahead."

Ramprakash scored 114 first-class centuries, making his 100th against Yorkshire at Headingley in 2008.

Despite scoring 35,659 first-class runs and a further 13,273 in List A games, Ramprakash sometimes struggled at international level.

He made two Test centuries and admitted the first, which came when he scored 154 against West Indies in 1998, was one of the best moments of his career.

"The first Test hundred took a while," added Ramprakash. "I had lots of ups and downs and lots of tough times and I was never sure I would achieve it.

"But I'm very proud and happy with my career. If anyone had given me this at the start then I would have taken it.

"I've been lucky to have played for so long and I've tried to keep myself fit, professional and competitive.

"People will have their opinions but I've enjoyed my career, gave it everything and don't look back on it with any regrets."

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48 comments

  • Comment posted by User0708728217, at 18:28 5 Jul 2012

    Good luck Mark one of the best county players ever and i always enjoyed watching you bat

  • Comment posted by vikingsarecoming, at 00:12 6 Jul 2012

    Thanks for all the entertainment over the years Ramps, have a great 'retirement' and good luck in whatever you decide to do.

  • Comment posted by User0707506206, at 08:31 6 Jul 2012

    A guy has a successful career and plays professional sport to age 42, and some people want to come in on internet and make snidey remarks on the day he retires? Says so much more about the commenters than the sportsman! Ramps? Top man.

  • Comment posted by Shinydemon, at 21:37 5 Jul 2012

    Ramprakash was a bit like Hick, but without the hype. A destroyer of ordinary bowling at f-c level.
    Re #9 and the "over-rated" Gower. I can't see that at all. I would venture that he was border-line genius with something akin to attention deficit. He seemed to take his immense talent for granted, easily bored and not appearing to care, but in full flow at the top of his game there was none better.

  • Comment posted by bon0bobananas, at 21:03 5 Jul 2012

    David Gower overrated? 8231 runs at 44.25? Haha @Mark J. But let's not argue, Ramps class.

  • Comment posted by chanceig, at 09:54 6 Jul 2012

    An amazing servant to Surrey and a very humble man, who had a great deal of talent especially at County level.

    I understand he couldn't transfer that to International level for whatever reason, it still does not take away the fact that he scored over 35,000 first class runs.

    The sniping and snidy comments are uncalled for.

  • Comment posted by D1679628963736, at 00:38 6 Jul 2012

    good county cricketer shame he didnt perform for england.
    Enjoy your retirement ramps

  • Comment posted by User0280414885, at 21:40 5 Jul 2012

    Ah well

    Let's remember the great Ramprakash who made 114 first class hundreds (it's unlikely many Englishman will do that with today's cricketing schedule)

    Lets not worry about the un-fufilled talent in the International arena.

    Great person, great player. Cheers Ramps :)

  • Comment posted by Canadupe, at 18:56 5 Jul 2012

    He still stands out as one of the most attractive batsmen I've seen in 30-odd years of watching the game. Technically he had everything but, crucially, lacked the ability to block out the demons every one of us encounters. Unlike most of us, his struggles took place in public and there was no place to hide.

  • Comment posted by malmcleod1408, at 22:43 5 Jul 2012

    My favourite (only) Ramprakash sighting was in a nightclub and later on a snooker club in Northampton. Gatting had been dismissed in the last over of Friday's play so wouldn't be required to do much on Saturday morning. To this end he was enjoying a pint or ten.

    Ramps had clearly been given the job of 'night watchman' and was doing his best to keep him out of trouble.

  • Comment posted by User0676843913, at 12:31 6 Jul 2012

    Great ambassador for cricket and despite his international career did not take off like his county career, he will still be one of the most respected batsmen for the game. Well done Mark

  • Comment posted by Peter Lanky, at 13:12 6 Jul 2012

    Ramprakash should never have played in as many as 52 tests. Most other talented players with such a poor record for England had been thrown on the international scrap heap way before they had reached this number. Frank Hayes and Neil Fairbrother are two who immediately come to mind, but I'm sure followers of every county will be able to name a couple of their own.

  • Comment posted by flying chemist, at 02:46 6 Jul 2012

    I would like to add that it has been a sad few weeks for Surrey. The tragic loss of Tom Maynard and now Ramps retirement, perhaps our 2 best batsman. I hope the team can do these 2 great men justice and win something this season and stay in Division 1 where Tom and Mark helped to put them last year.

  • Comment posted by User0775136987, at 21:19 5 Jul 2012

    He didn't quite fulfill his potential on the international stage however no one can say he wasn't one of the finest County cricketers over the last 20 years and a good man too.

  • Comment posted by User0374700177, at 10:18 6 Jul 2012

    He had the misfortune of playing against top class Australian and West Indies sides when he stepped up to test level . Had he broke into the test team today with England number one his talent would probably mean him having a tremendous test career to go with his county one.

  • Comment posted by muttley, at 10:15 6 Jul 2012

    what a player! Technically good, determined and hungry. He's adapted to the changes in the game too. To be still playing professional sport at 42 demands respect. To do it with the passion Ramps had for the game, its what you wish for sportmen your children aspire to be. All good wishes to him wherever his career takes him.

  • Comment posted by User0418076377, at 19:11 5 Jul 2012

    Always sad to see a player of Mark's undoubted talent retire with question marks against him. His 1st Class stats are second to none,but at international level he never fulfilled his promise. He & Graeme Hick both fall into this category. As a Surrey supporter I would like to thank Mark for his great contribution to the success of the club & wish him a long & happy retirement. Cheers Ramps

  • Comment posted by Captain_Bluebeard, at 09:02 6 Jul 2012

    Best wishes to him for his retirement. Career highlight for me was his first class average of over 100 for two seasons in a row. That was an awesome achievement that I doubt will ever be matched.

  • Comment posted by bon0bobananas, at 19:15 5 Jul 2012

    I remember him getting his painful run of 15-19, scratching around until finally put out of his misery.

    I agree with Canadupe that in the current set up he would have had much more of a chance a la Ian Bell to get a decent run before being discarded. As such a wasted talent from England's point of view. 'It could have been a brilliant career' as Belle and Sebastian may have said.

  • Comment posted by KBO, at 10:19 6 Jul 2012

    Would it be fair to draw comparisons with Matt le Tissier in footy? A legend at club level that didn't quite scale the heights for his country?

    Regardless, I wish him happiness & success in the next phase of his life (maybe a judge on Strictly?!).

    Completely agree with the comments that the snide remarks can go elsewhere.

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