Mark Ramprakash: state pupils hit for six in cricket

Cricket is in danger of returning to its upper-class roots as privately educated boys dominate the game, one of the country's best batsmen warns today.

The sport that once had separate changing rooms for "gentlemen" and "players" faces a new threat from elitist attitudes among coaches, according to Mark Ramprakash.

The Surrey star fears the national side will miss out on world-class players as professional coaches turn their backs on state school players.

Ramprakash, who played 52 Tests for England, called for closer links between local cricket clubs and comprehensives to give state pupils a better chance of progressing.

While England's footballers flopped out of the World Cup on Sunday, the national cricket side beat Australia in the NatWest one-day series. But just six out of the 11 men in the England cricket team attended state schools.

Ramprakash attended Gayton High School in Harrow. But he told the Standard that his experiences while training to become a top-level coach made him fear that the sport was becoming elitist.

"Coaches were being pushed towards spotting players who are already of a certain maturity, education, temperament, character... there is so much talent in state education but it needs to be nurtured," he said.

A spokesman for the England and Wales Cricket Board acknowledged there was "more to do" but added: "We are always open to working with children both state and private sectors."

Mark Ramprakash supports Sky Sports Living for Sport which is a free initiative for all secondary schools in the UK that uses sport to inspire young people. For more information visit www.skysports.com/livingforsport