Ramprakash surplus to requirements (31 August 1999)
Mark ramprakash, who topped the batting averages on the tour of Australia last winter, has been dropped from the England party who go to South Africa in October
31-Aug-1999
31 August 1999
Ramprakash surplus to requirements
Michael Henderson
Mark ramprakash, who topped the batting averages on the tour of
Australia last winter, has been dropped from the England party
who go to South Africa in October.
The Middlesex captain, who has played in England's last 18 Tests,
was the one prominent casualty when the 17-man party were
announced at Lord's yesterday.
David Graveney, the chairman of selectors, explained that either
Ramprakash or Alec Stewart would have to stand down to make way
for the new players they were keen to pick. Stewart won the vote
for his skills behind the stumps and will now revert to the
wicketkeeper-batsman role he has fulfilled, on and off, for a
decade.
England have selected four players who have never played Test
cricket and recalled another, Andrew Flintoff, who has played
only two matches. The newcomers are Chris Adams, 29, the Sussex
captain; Gavin Hamilton, 24, the Yorkshire all-rounder; Graeme
Swann, 20, the Northamptonshire off-spinner; and Michael Vaughan,
24, the Yorkshire batsman.
"We wanted a spine of experience running through the team,"
Graveney said, alluding to Michael Atherton, Nasser Hussain and
Stewart, who will bat at No 5 or No 6. He said that Ramprakash
had looked tired and could benefit from the sort of rest that
Graham Thorpe has given himself this winter. Thorpe announced
last week that he would not be available for selection.
England's intention, said Graveney, was to "squeeze every run out
of every player", a clear reference to their appalling batting in
Australia and this summer against New Zealand. Flintoff and
Hamilton are aggressive all-rounders. Vaughan is a batsman who
can bowl finger spin and Swann is a spinner who can bat. Adams,
who cannot really be called a young 'un at 29, won selection for
his cavalier batting and his general air of purpose.
Before the team leave on Oct 26, three of the five pace bowlers
in the party will have to prove their fitness. Darren Gough, Alex
Tudor and Dean Headley, who have been dogged by various ailments,
must convince the new coach, Duncan Fletcher, that they can
withstand the rigours of a five-Test series that ends on Jan 18.
Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)