Ramprakash opens up in the Wharf

Despite that, his form this summer saw him touted for a return to the England side against Australia, although he was ultimately overlooked in favour of Jonathan Trott.

He said: "I was very flattered. There was a lot of goodwill and I would have loved to have had another go, but it wasn't to be.

"Happily England played extremely well and had a very important victory. Winning the Ashes gives the whole sport a lift. People want to be involved in a successful side, so we're all very aware of the impact of the national side and it's fortunes.

"I hope, unlike in 2005, when England didn't really build on their success, they will find a bit more consistency. Admittedly it will be without Freddie Flintoff, but England do have a lot of talent and ability. The players at the moment are playing with a lot of confidence and that's obviously very important."

Ramprakash, 40, was in Canary Wharf on Monday to promote his autobiography Strictly Me. He felt the time was right to bring out his life story.

He said: "I thought it was right, with retirement looming in the next couple of years, to put down on paper a lot of my thoughts on things I've experienced in my career.

"As a professional sportsman you are always aware your career will be commented on and often you don't have the right of reply. Here was a great opportunity to talk about my experiences, the highs and lows, from my point of view."

There have been many highs - trophies with Middlesex and Surrey and 52 tests for England - but also lows, notably an inconsistent test career, where he averaged just over 27. Ramprakash believes things would have been different if the modern set-up had been in place when he made his debut against a formidable West Indies in 1991.

He said: "When people talk about me in the media, often it can be in a negative sense, so I have to remind myself that I played 52 test matches for England. I'm very proud of that, and of what I've achieved in the game.

"It's a different era now. I remember in 1991 walking into the Headingley dressing room and most of the players were much older than me - people like Graham Gooch, Allan Lamb, Robin Smith, Devon Malcolm. I hadn't even met these guys before, let alone played with them. We didn't necessarily have that much in common. It wasn't an easy situation.

"I was 21 against what was probably the world champion team, so what were the selectors hoping for? On reflection, I was picked too early. The chances of me succeeding in that series were very slim.

"Now the selectors would wait, pick and choose the time to introduce the young player, and for that reason a lot of players who have debuted recently have done well.

"Today the set-up is excellent. New players coming into the side have a lot of support, and perhaps have played representative cricket with England Lions. Often they are introduced to the squad, even if they are not selected, knowing they are perhaps the next in line.

"All that allows a player to become comfortable with the surroundings so when they do play they are a lot more relaxed and can enjoy their cricket."

Ramprakash believes England's success reflects well on county cricket, although he feels the English Cricket Board need to meddle less in the structure of competitions.

He said: "I get very annoyed with the ECB. They keep tampering with the competition every year and as a player, for me, how can it be right one year then they change it one year and again the year after that? They need to get a structure and stick with it.

"In terms of the health of county cricket I think it's very good and Jonathan Trott is an example of that. He's played a lot of county cricket, learnt his game and performed consistently and made the jump to test cricket no problem.

"County cricket is alive and well. I just wish the administrators would stop messing about with it and let us get on with it.

"On the one hand we all have to accept the game is evolving. I accept that. But for me the ideal structure would be one four day championship, 16 four-day games, a 20 over competition and while there is one day international cricket over 50 overs we should have the same competition.

"Match the international and domestic structures. It makes sense."

Despite a fractured thumb that ended his season prematurely Ramprakash is still open to offers from the England selectors should there be a vacancy in the batting line-up for the winter tour to South Africa.

He said: "I'm available, but I'm not expecting a call. It will be a very testing tour. South Africa at home will be a very tough series."

With, as he said, "retirement looming", what does Ramprakash envisage as a career once he hangs up the willow once and for all?

"I'm not really sure," he said.

"Professional coaching does interest me. I've found it quite rewarding when I've worked with young players before and feel I can push them on.

"Other than that I'm open to suggestions."

Strictly Me, by Mark Ramprakash is out now, published by Mainstream at £18.99. Available from Waterstone's in Canary Wharf.