Mark Ramprakash

A former English cricketer who is among 25 players in the game to have scored 100 first-class centuries, Mark Ramprakash was a gifted professional who had success with Middlesex, Surrey and England. In one particular game for Surrey against Northamptonshire Mark even managed a 301-not out, beating his own record from just three months earlier (292).

Known for his fiery temperament, but also for his prolific run scoring which earned him a reputation as an indispensable member of the Surrey CCC team, Mark enjoyed involvement in several international tours for England and took over as the batting coach for England in 2015.

Never quite shining on the international stage, Mark was often trusted to play only against the world's top teams. A stunning season in 2006 which saw him break records with 2000 runs in 20 innings and finish the season as only the sixth player to have averaged over a hundred in eight or more first-class innings, saw him reinstated to the England team. Once again he was in and out of the England setup but often reentered the fray due to his fine form.

After earning promotion with Surrey CCC he built on his outstanding season with another one in 2007. Becoming Wisden Cricketer of the Year and PCA Player of the Year thanks to 2026 first-class runs, he became the only man to have averaged over 100 runs in two successive seasons in the English game.

Further success followed out county level where he secured his status as one of the league's best players. He would again win the accolade of county cricket's leading run scorer in 2010 though his extraordinary ability with the bat in hand did not earn him another England call-up despite pressure for him to reappear in the team. He retired in 2012 to become the batting coach at Middlesex. Upon his retirement, Sky Sports presenter Jim White wrote about Mark Ramprakash in a Daily Telegraph column, saying:

"When he addressed the ball, with everything aligned, everything in the right place, he produced an image which can only be described as exquisite."

Since hanging up his bat, Mark has featured as the batting coach for England, helping an enviable batting lineup towards their impressive 2019 World Cup victory. Still at the heart of his career, he has also appeared on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing in 2006 where he and Karen Hardy won the competition. He has subsequently appeared on special editions for Sport Relief.

A fantastic after dinner speaker who can speak about his success, as well as his failures at international level. Able to talk peak performance, overcoming adversity, teamwork, maximising success and more, he is the ideal name to impress delegates at corporate and charity events.