Ramprakash awarded MBE
View(s):Former England batsman Mark Ramprakash has hailed his MBE as more significant than the 114 centuries he scored during 25 years of first-class cricket.
Ramprakash received the prestigious award in the New Year Honours, and insisted it was more noteworthy than any achievement accrued during a career that also featured 52 Test matches for his country.
“I think this MBE eclipses all that I have achieved in the game. It came straight out of the blue. I think for most players representing your country is the biggest moment in your life. When you experience winning Tests, there is little other feeling that comes close to that,” he enthused.
“I have been lucky to play for so long and achieve things throughout my career like the 100 first-class centuries. But this is an acknowledgment of your entire career. I have been committed to cricket for 25 years.
“That is a very long time but I enjoyed every minute of it. To have that acknowledgment from someone outside of what you did is an immensely proud moment.”
No record was more indicative of the right-handed Ramprakash’s vast talent than joining a select band of players, including legendary names such as WG Grace, Sir Donald Bradman and Geoff Boycott, to have scored 100 centuries in first-class cricket. He was named the 2007 Wisden Cricketer of the Year after becoming the first batsman ever to average more than 100 in consecutive county seasons with Surrey.
“Mark was among the most supremely gifted batsmen of his generation and can be justifiably proud of being one of an elite band of cricketers who have scored 100 first-class tons,” added England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive David Collier.
-Cricket365
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