Age-old England - Ramps

Veteran batsman calls for England selectors to review selection policy

By James Root   Last updated: 17th April 2008

Ramprakash

Ramprakash: wants England selectors to pick the team on form only

If England wanted me to play tomorrow, I'm available. Given the last two years where things have gone very well and yet still I haven't been selected, I'm not holding my breath.

Mark Ramprakash
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Mark Ramprakash told skysports.com that England's selectors must pick the best players regardless of age.

Ramprakash has not played for England since 2002 yet his form over the past two seasons - where he has scored more than 2,000 county championship runs averaging more than 100 - has led to shouts for a recall to the Test squad.

England's batsmen underperformed on the recent tour of New Zealand and although the Surrey batsman would welcome an England recall but feels that age has worked against him.

He told skysports.com: "There are lots of talented players out there without doubt and they've all got to keep working very hard - it's very important that England selectors don't give the impression that the England team is a closed shop.

"[The selectors] have got to make sure that people understand that if you perform well in county cricket then you have a chance of playing for England. Maybe in recent times that's not always been the case."

"You pick your best six batsmen, if one gets injured you pick the next best batsman, it's as simple as that.

Available

"If England wanted me to play tomorrow, I'm available. Given the last two years where things have gone very well and yet still I haven't been selected, I'm not holding my breath.

"I think age undoubtedly plays a part but my fitness results stack up with most people, but having said that there are a lot of good players in the England side."

Ramprakash was also surprised that former Middlesex team-mate, Owais Shah was not given his chance on the winter tour of New Zealand.

"I was very surprised to see Owais Shah miss out in Sri Lanka and then once Ravi Bopara was not selected for the New Zealand tour I just assumed that Shah would be next in line.

"Andrew Strauss, I think, was dropped on form and for Strauss then to come straight back in the side, well I can only speculate as to how Owais felt about that."

Click here to read the full interview