Ramprakash facing new heartbreak

Mark Ramprakash is on his way back to Lord's next month - but it could yet be as 12th man.

Ramprakash, who quit Middlesex last winter for Surrey in the hope of winning medals and improving his chances of an England recall, enjoyed the celebrations at The Oval after his new county booked their place in the Benson and Hedges Cup final.

But Ramprakash was forced to sit out the 174-run thumping of Notts because of a hamstring injury and now knows competition for places in the 14 July showdown against holders Gloucestershire will be tougher than ever.

With Graham Thorpe still on course to make his comeback from a calf strain against Lancashire in a championship match at The Oval this Friday, Surrey could soon be faced with just about the trickiest selection problem imaginable. Despite contributing 32 perfectly-timed runs from only 21 balls as the home side roared to a record-breaking 361 for eight at The Oval yesterday, Nadeem Shahid is unlikely to keep his place for the final.

But it is hard to see who else could be sacrificed from the semi-final line-up to accommodate both Thorpe and Ramprakash. Mark Butcher took his chance splendidly against Notts. Recalled when Ramprakash failed a fitness test, the former England opener top-scored with 84 at virtually a run a ball to pinch the gold award from Ian Ward (56 off 50 deliveries), Alec Stewart (67 off 67) and Alistair Brown (49 off 37).

"I'm saying nothing," replied Butcher when asked whether he'd made it impossible for Surrey to drop him.

Surrey registered the highest total by one first-class county against another in the competition's 30-year history and Gloucestershire are unlikely to be anywhere near as obliging at Lord's a fortnight on Saturday.

The West Country club will be appearing in their fifth consecutive knock-out final. They have won the previous four and will see next month's meeting as another wonderful opportunity to tell England's selectors that several of their players are long overdue international recognition.