Mark Ramprakash: What I've Learnt This Week

When the ball-tampering saga exploded I was watching the action on television and Mike Atherton, commentating for Sky, said he believed that the umpire Darrell Hair had shown "crass insensitivity" by awarding England five runs and thus accusing Pakistan of cheating.

I would agree. Apparently, there had been no problems in the series up to then, although I've heard that England had concerns during the first innings of that fourth Test when Pakistan got swing. That may have prompted their coach, Duncan Fletcher, to go to the match referee, Mike Procter, but that is speculation.

From the outside it is easy to say the whole thing could have been avoided, but when you are in the heat of the moment it's difficult and Hair, according to the letter of the law, did what he thought was right. Many umpires I have spoken to have some sympathy with him because he acted in the way he thought was right.

However, the decision raises a few questions. Pakistan had the ball swinging, as they showed when they got rid of Alastair Cook. The umpires looked at the ball and it must have been OK. About 15 minutes later Hair objected. Why if it was swinging enough to get a man on 80 out would you keep scuffing?

Sky's 26 cameras also found no evidence. At the Oval there is a concrete gutter around the boundary that can scuff the ball. The pitch is also abrasive so it naturally damages the ball. Reverse swing is common there. The problem with docking a team five runs is that you are accusing them of cheating and you are on shaky ground. You need hard evidence.

As Angus Fraser pointed out, when England got early reverse swing in the Ashes everyone said it was skill. There is a concern that Pakistan have previous, but it is dangerous to study one team and not another.

In the professional game it is common knowledge that sweets or mints are used to create sugary saliva to help to shine the ball. In a Test once, Marcus Trescothick was running along and loads of sweets fell out of his pocket. Where do you draw the line?

Last year, Surrey were found guilty of ball tampering and docked eight points. The umpire Merv Kitchen told me he was not happy with the ball and said someone was picking at the quarter seam. He gave us a warning. I naively didn't tell the boys. About 45 minutes later Merv was still not happy, so, rightly - as it was obvious the ball had been tampered with, as the quarter seam doesn't simply split - he awarded five runs. It was fair and well handled.

With scuff marks it is harder to prove how they got there. So if you haven't seen anything you have to be careful. Hair should have called Inzy [Inzamam-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain] over and warned him. Or he could have changed the ball and not given a reason. But he went the whole hog and was very quick. There is talk of Hair being involved in county cricket. It would be interesting to see how Pakistan players would react to him. The mood is that he has baggage and has lost credibility.

In the Lord's Test in 1998 I was given out caught behind by Hair when a ball clipped my shirt. I told him he was messing with my career. In the hearing afterwards there was no leeway. He was adamant that I should be punished. I shouldn't have said what I did but a lot worse is said in the heat of the moment and is let go. But Hair was certain in his mind and unbending in attitude. He showed the same approach when he refused to restart the Oval Test. Not even for the crowd, the teams or the general public.

However, Pakistan's protest was wrong. I was surprised Bob Woolmer, their coach, allowed them to stay off the field. They should have gone through the proper channels. What could have been avoided has erupted into a sensational story that cricket didn't need.

2. Surrey's unsung players play a key role

At Surrey, we have the opportunity to get promoted in the County Championship as champions if we finish the season well. We are also running strongly in the 40-over competition and have a great shout of winning the second division title. We have worked really hard to achieve it. In pre-season we said discipline and patience, allied to our talent, should equal consistency.

Unfortunately, we have lost the Indian spinner Anil Kumble, who had to go home because of a shoulder injury; Rikki Clarke is with England and James Benning has dislocated his finger.

But if we don't finish strongly we may only scrape promotion and not go up in the 40-over competition, which would be a season of disappointment and we would feel not much progress has been made.

However, I would point to some individuals who have improved this season. Benning is one. He has a Championship ton and is opening very well in one-dayers. Scott Newman has been consistent at the top of the innings and is getting his runs in a more measured manner. Our spinner Nayan Doshi continues to improve. The bowling of Neil Saker, our young quick, is going in the right direction and, hopefully, can fill the positions left by Martin Bicknell and James Ormond. And Clarke, our new vice-captain, is so talented. He is showing more concentration with bat and ball and has made huge strides in his approach.

3. 'Peperami man' lacks bite in front of goal

One thing I'll miss in the long winter months is our morning kickabout. At the moment Saker, who has a physique like the Peperami man on the adverts, is having a shocker. On Thursday he missed an open goal from two yards. In the dressing-room Mark Butcher and I didn't have the heart to take the mick as he looked pretty down. Jon Batty strolled in and told him it was the most appalling game he'd ever seen from someone. The dressing-room erupted into laughter.

4. Now is the time to plan for winter

After the season ends I plan to complete my level four coaching badge at Loughborough through the ECB. I'll be coaching at Wellington School in Berkshire and, hopefully, going to see the Gunners knock in a few goals. And I'll be finding various new ways to lose golf balls.