Ramps mark II

The coincidence is eerie. A Middlesex batsman of Asian stock, sniped at interminably for abusing a precious talent, is promoted to captain but proves too inward-looking by half. Soon returned to the ranks, he finds Surrey in the mood for some wooing.

For Mark Ramprakash four years ago, read Owais Shah. Shah's former mentor is now at ease with himself and a reunion could be the (re-)making of Shah. At times, whether by nature or talent or both, he has appeared isolated at Middlesex. Should he have been loaned to Hampshire a couple of summers ago, to rediscover form and purpose in a different, less judgemental environment? Probably.

Shah's response to losing his post as captain Andy Strauss's locum in late June (in fact a rather more permanent position, given Strauss's England success) was an avalanche of runs. In 11 Championship innings between his demotion and the end of August Shah scored 580 at 72.50, with three centuries equalling his season's-best total. With three games to go, he has passed his best-ever total of Championship runs - 1,019.

A still hotter streak in the totesport League - 427 runs at 85.40, including two unbeaten hundreds - propelled Middlesex towards the main target John Emburey set when he became coach: a place in both top divisions. If this is goodbye, Shah certainly seems to have observed that venerable Vaudeville dictum: leave 'em wanting more.