Alan Ramage

Alan Ramage (born November 29, 1957) is a first class cricketer who played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club, Northern Transvaal and the Minor Counties. A right arm fast bowler, he took 44 wickets at 37.47 in first class cricket with a best of 5 for 65 and scored 219 runs, batting left-handed, at 16.84 with a top score of 52. He began his cricket as a batsman, and was picked to represent England Under 15s at the age of 12, but developed his fast bowling as he matured.

In 37 list A one day matches, he took 31 wickets at 39.9 and scored 184 runs at 18.4, with a highest score of 32 not out.

He was born in Guisborough, Yorkshire and first played for Yorkshire, in the John Player League, in 1975. He played 7 one day games before making his first class debut for his native county against Cambridge University in June 1979. He made sporadic appearances until his final match, against Nottinghamshire in July 1983, bowling many hostile spells but never cementing a permanent place in a strong Yorkshire seam bowling side which also boasted the talents of England players Chris Old, Graham Stevenson and Arnie Sidebottom.

He played for Northern Transvaal against Natal in a one day game in December 1982, having joined the Berea Park Club in Pretoria as their overseas professional, and for the Minor Counties in two Benson and Hedges Cup matches in 1984.

Alan combined with cricket career with appearances for Middlesbrough F.C. The phenomenon of players enjoying a career in top flight cricket and football was once fairly common, but the increasing intensity of both sports leaves Ramage as one of the last of his breed. He played for Middlesbrough between 1975 and 1980, making his debut as an 18-year-old substitute at Villa Park under the management of Jack Charlton and made a total of 77 appearances for the first team. He was transferred to Derby County in 1980.

Alan also now runs a successful energy inspector business. [http://www.energyassessorsgroup.com/]

References

* [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/19563.html Cricinfo Profile]
* [http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/32/32232/32232.html Cricket Archive Statistics]
* [http://www.comeonboro.com/interviews/140005.htm Alan Ramage Interview]