My Life in Ten Questions... Mark Ramprakash

'Looking back now, I realise I’ve been incredibly lucky'

Mark Ramprakash (Getty Images)

Mark Ramprakash, 40, is a cricketer who plays for Surrey and England. He is one of only 25 players in the history of the sport to have scored 100 first-class centuries. In 2006 won the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing show.

What would you normally be doing if you weren’t talking me?

I have a night game at the Oval tonight so I’d almost certainly be at home relaxing and watching a CSI television show that I taped during the week.

What’s the most surprising thing that’s ever happened to you?

It would have to be taking part in Strictly Come Dancing. It was totally out the blue as dancing was something I’d never previously considered doing.

In moments of weakness, what do you turn to?

I suppose it would be my family. My parents in particular provide a lot experience, support and objective opinion.

What did you want to be as a child?

I always wanted to be a cricketer but other than that probably a fireman.

What’s your desert island disk?

I would certainly take something nice and easy going. It would probably be something like Gloria Estefan although I have no idea which song.

What advice do you wish you’d received when you were younger?

Within cricket I wish I’d understood earlier that there will always be bad days. As long as you persevere things will come your way eventually.

What one thing would you save if your house was on fire?

Assuming there was nobody actually in the house, I would run back and grab the bat I used to score my first Test century against the West Indies.

What’s your greatest regret?

Looking back now, I realise I’ve been incredibly lucky. I guess I don’t really have any regrets. I’ve played 52 times for England so I feel the glass is always half full.

What’s your earliest memory?

It would be in my living room with my mum when I was about three-years-old. She was throwing a plastic ball to me and I was trying to it with a little plastic bat.

If you could meet anyone from history who would it be and what would you ask them?

It would definitely be Mahatma Gandhi. There are so many things I’d ask but in particular I’d like to find out how he was able to balance the struggle for Indian independence whilst maintaining passive resistance.

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