LEICESTER (first day of four; Surrey won toss): Surrey have scored 320 for four against Leicestershire

FOR Mark Ramprakash, Surrey’s relegation from the first division last year at least brought with it the prospect of batting once more against Leicestershire, his favourite attack. Ramprakash has gorged himself on their bowling in the past, averaging 89.85 in his previous 16 first-class innings against the county. The eightieth hundred of his career yesterday, therefore, was perhaps his most inevitable, even if Leicestershire made him work hard for it.

This was one of those familiar Ramprakash occupations of the crease in which he did not look like getting out. One half-chance to Darren Robinson at second slip on 31 off Stuart Broad, off the last ball before lunch, was the only sniff that Leicestershire got until he was leg-before playing across a straight one.

By then, Ramprakash had reached his fifth hundred against Leicestershire — off 203 balls — having shown excellent judgment in what to leave and what to play. Content to hit most of his 16 fours through the covers with drives or back-foot forcing shots, he also drove Claude Henderson for a straight six.

Ramprakash admitted afterwards that the low, slow pitch, which had offered some seam movement before lunch but less as the ball got older, had required “a lot of concentration”. No one in England, of course, is better equipped in this respect, although Mark Butcher grafted long and hard for his unbeaten 75 from 202 balls, with eight fours.

Together, the pair put on 162 in 47 overs for the third wicket after Jon Batty was bowled trying to cut a ball that was too close to his off stump.

Leicestershire, in what was their first day of first-class cricket this season, bowled accurately and with discipline. While Mohammad Asif performed very tidily but within himself, Ramprakash felt that Broad showed a lot of promise. The niggardly Dave Masters produced a fine opening spell of 7-5-8-1, in which he had Scott Newman taken in the gully.

After his five-hour innings, Ramprakash admitted that Surrey have been surprised by their first two matches in the second division. “It’s going to be very tough,” he said. “Both Derby and Leicester have played good cricket and it’s going to be a challenge for our batsmen and bowlers to be as disciplined. No one should be under the illusion that we’re going to steamroller sides.”