Selectors wait on Ramprakash

Mark Ramprakash is the batsman most likely to give Surrey and England some urgently needed good news on the injury front this week.

While Graham Thorpe has next to no hope of playing for the County champions in tomorrow's C&G Trophy fourth-round match against Yorkshire at Headingley, Ramprakash could yet return to the middle order.

"I would give him a 50-50 chance at the moment," said Surrey coach Keith Medlycott.

Ramprakash, who aggravated a hamstring problem nine days ago, was England's first choice to replace calf injury victim Thorpe in the team ultimately trounced by Australia at Edgbaston.

Now the national selectors are hoping that Ramprakash will prove his fitness for the Second Test by playing at some stage this week - either tomorrow or in Saturday's Benson and Hedges Cup Final against Gloucestershire at Lord's.

With captain Nasser Hussain now certain to miss chapter two of the Ashes battle because of a broken finger, England clearly need all the experience they can muster.

The same can be said for Surrey, who have just begun the most important week of their season.

Although not out of the championship hunt, Adam Hollioake's team are lying nearer the bottom than top in points terms and may have a better chance of success in the two one-day knockout competitions.

However, the opposition this week couldn't be tougher. While Gloucestershire will bid for a fifth consecutive Lord's final triumph on Saturday, Yorkshire at Headingley could be an even harder nut to crack tomorrow.