Ramprakash Wins Player of the Year Award

Former England batsman Mark Ramprakash was named the Professional Cricketers' Association player of the year after a season in which he emulated Sir Donald Bradman.

Ramprakash scored 2,278 first-class runs at an fantastic average of 103.54 to help Surrey win promotion into Division one of the County Championship.

He twice extended his career-best with innings of 292 against Gloucestershire and 301 against Northamptonshire - one of four successive matches in which he passed 100.

The 37-year-old Surrey player became the fifth batsman to average more than 100 in first-class cricket in an English summer, after Bradman, Geoffrey Boycott twice, Graham Gooch and Damien Martyn.

Ramprakash said: "I am delighted with the way things have gone this year. I really want to thank my Surrey team-mates and in particular the coach Alan Butcher, who has taken the time to get to know me.

"Things just clicked for me this year. I don't know why really. You work hard every year but sometimes things do just click and this was a good year."

Ramprakash beat fellow nominees Mushtaq Ahmed, the leg-spinner who took 102 wickets as Sussex won the championship, Hampshire's John Crawley and Ian Bell.

Alastair Cook took the PCA young player of the year award for the second season running.

The Essex and England batsman made his Test debut on the tour to India last winter and scored a century in his first match.

Cook has already registered a double hundred against the old enemy while playing for Essex during a tour match at Chelmsford last summer.

And he is relishing the chance to get stuck into the likes of Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee on the bouncy surfaces Down Under.

"Bring it on," he said. "I am sure we can bring the Ashes home."

Cook won the vote ahead of promising fast bowler Stuart Broad, wicketkeeper Steven Davies and new England cult hero Monty Panesar.

The ECB special award went to David English, who started the famous Bunbury cricket club 20 years ago and whose annual festival for Under-15s has helped the likes of Cook and Bell graduate to full Test honours.

The PCA special merit award went to Dennis Amiss, the former England batsman who scored 100 centuries in his professional career and last year stood down as Warwickshire chief executive.

The umpire of the year award was won by former professional player Neil Mallender.