Ramprakash does it again

Mark Ramprakash scored 10 first-class tons © Getty Images

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Surrey's remarkable resurgence in form in the last six weeks saw them leap into fourth place in the LV County Championship Division One table after having the threat of relegation hanging over them for much of the season.

Their amazing run included victories in five successive games, with experienced batsman Mark Ramprakash one of the big reasons for their success.

Ramprakash ended the summer with 2,026 first-class runs - passing 2,000 runs in the season for the second consecutive year - with 326 of them coming in the final match of the season, against Lancashire.

“I'm obviously chuffed with the way the season has gone,” he told ecb.co.uk. "It has been a tough season for Surrey but I think in the last two months when we have had to fight really hard to avoid relegation, there has been a fantastic response from the squad.

Ramprakash celebrates his 196 against Lancashire

“We have had a really good team spirit and that has undoubtedly helped me in my game to relax and play well.

“It is so much more satisfying, when you are batting well, for the team to go on and do well. That, for me, is something I enjoy trying to do.”

Ramprakash's last five scores for Surrey in the championship were 188 against Hampshire, 175 and 15 not out against Warwickshire and 196 and 130 not out against Lancashire.

These massive contributions held the Surrey innings together, allowing his team-mates to bat around him and set up victory on each occasion.

“We had excellent wins at the Rose Bowl and Edgbaston,” he said. “For me it was great to get a good score for Surrey and therefore allowing the bowlers to have time to bowl the opposition out. I'm really pleased with that.”

Ramprakash scored 10 first-class centuries this summer, taking his overall tally to 97, making 100 hundreds a very real possibility in the early part of next season.

“It has been on my mind a little bit,” Ramprakash admitted. “But happily it hasn't taken away the enjoyment of just going out and batting.

Bringing in Harbhajan Singh worked well © Getty Images

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“But yes, there is no doubt, with every hundred now, I am inching my way closer to what would be a really nice landmark to achieve.

“I've been very happy and relaxed at the crease for the last few years. I'm really enjoying my cricket with Surrey and I'm determined to enjoy what matches I have left in my career.

“I realise that I have been so lucky to be playing cricket. On my contract, I've got '08 and '09, so at this time I'm looking forward to playing for the next two years.”

But it isn't just Ramprakash's batting which provided a catalyst for Surrey's boost in results at the latter end of the season.

“I think the turning point was a major decision taken by the management to change the dynamic of the side,” the 38-year-old announced.

“Azhar Mahmood is a fantastic cricketer, but Surrey took the decision halfway through the season to release him and bring in a different type of cricketer in Harbhajan Singh.

“He is a fantastic spin bowler. He came along and not only kept things tight, but also took a lot of wickets. That really helped the other bowlers because a spinner can bowl lots of overs at one end and we can rotate the seamers at the other.

“I think straightaway we beat Durham at the Oval in Harbhajan's first game, and that set us on our way.”