Ramprakash: 'England tactically wrong'

Date released: 25 November 2008

England and Surrey batsman Mark Ramprakash says the England team, currently struggling on tour in India, have got it "tactically wrong".

• Listen to the exclusive interview in full (7.2 MB)

Ramprakash was at Lord's as part of the launch of Sports Heritage Network's 'Our Sporting Life' campaign.

Sports Heritage Network aim to involve more people in the UK's sporting heritage and the 'Our Sporting Life' campaign is setting out to identify sporting moments, heroes and objects that have inspired the people of Britain.

Ramprakash: 'Closest he's ever got to the Ashes' Ramprakash spoke exclusively to Lords.org. With England 4-0 down in the seven match one-day series in India Ramprakash felt he had identified a weakness in the England set-up:

"I think the England side is a good side, there are a lot of good cricketers in that team. They just haven't adapted, tactically, to the conditions.

"To go into the two first one-day internationals with four fast bowlers and only Samit Patel to bowl spin - I'm afraid that's been proved to be the wrong decision, tactically.

"England have some very exciting players in [Stuart] Broad, [Ravi] Bopara, Patel all looking to come through which is very positive but we haven't quite got our tactics right. I hope that, in the Test series, we do."

Having added his one hundreth first-class century to his own list of records in the past county season calls for Ramprakash to return to the England set-up have grown:

"I'm not holding my breath." Ramprakash said.

Lord's - 'still magic'

Jon Batty and Ramprakash with exhibits from Sports Heritage Network's exhibition As part of his work with Sports Heritage Network, Ramprakash viewed the many memorabilia exhibits on display at Lord's as part of the 'Our Sporting Life' launch including: the 1966 football World Cup ball; the ball from the 2003 rugby union World Cup Final and of course, The Ashes, from the MCC Museum.

Ramprakash said he felt the magic of Lord's 'The Home of Cricket' long before his first match here as a player:

"Lord's has still got the magic - I first came here with my father and uncle and watched a one-day international in 1984 which was very exciting.

"To come back here in 1987 in pre-season practice and join in with the Middlesex first team over on the Nursery Ground, those are fond memories that really stick in my mind.

"There are fantastic facitilies here for the players but a special part of it is the tradition.

"Every time you walk into the home dressing room you can read the names up on the board, of great players who've achieved great success - that was an inspiration.

"It's important for any player that you're aware of the tradition of this ground and the great players that have played here."

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Listen to the exclusive interview in full (7.2 MB) - including Mark's take on John Sargeant stepping down on 'Strictly Come Dancing'.