Ten Reasons to recall Ramps for the Oval Test

1. He's been in the form of his life for the last three years or so, and was an outside bet to make the tours to Australia (2006) and Sri Lanka (2007). Being in the reckoning would mean he's continued to stay hungry.

2. The Ramprakash of 2009 is unrecognisable from the diffident and withdrawn test player at the turn of the century. His relaxed manner would be a welcome change from the sense of vulnerability effused from Ian Bell and Ravi Bopara.

3. He tended to save his best test efforts for Australia; that might have been a long time ago, but then the quality of those attacks was way higher then what he will have to contend with now.

4. If this recall is purely a one-off, one-test-only thing, far from being a disappointment, it is this change of expectation and the knowledge that he isn't playing for his future that would free Ramps of any pressure out in the middle. A last moment in the sun is after all an excuse to have fun, right?

5. Having won the 2007 edition of Strictly Come Dancng, the fearless Tango King (with a steadily growing female fan following), might inject a touch of much needed glamour to a weary England side desperate to get back on track. Dancing partner Karen Hardy will readily concur.

6. In this new age of big money and harsh realities, it's time to bring the romantic element back into cricket. "Born again test discard returns from wilderness to help win back the Ashes" might have the cynics up in arms, but then the nature of such glorious uncertainties is precisely the reason we were all drawn to the game in the first place. Such a redemptive possibility should not be overlooked; there is nothing for England to lose.

7. The fact that he has been away from international cricket for seven years is a moot point, as is the fact that he is 39 years of age. Matthew Hayden, Damien Martyn and more recently Ryan Sidebottom spent years away from their respective test sides before returning as much improved players. And age is but a state of mind. Ramps remains fearsomely fit.

8. With Bopara failing to fire, Kevin Pietersen out injured, Paul Collingwood's feet stuck in cement, and only the wicketkeeper and main allrounder looking like taking the attack to the opposition, England desperately need a free flowing middle-order bat who can combine dogged defence with strokeplay. At his home ground, the occasion is tailor made for ramps.

9. I never quite forgave the England selectors for pulling the plug on Graeme Hick's one day career int he lead up to the 2003 World Cup, despite him being England's top-ranked batsman in that form of the game. Selecting Ramprakash now would atone for it in my eyes.

10. Dreams are for free!