in 2006, ramprakash, relieved of the unwanted burden of captaincy, displayed good form, making a career-best 292 against gloucestershire in may, then improving that still further with 301 not out against northamptonshire in early august. later that month against worcestershire he made 196 in the first innings, and in the process passed 2,000 runs in first-class cricket for the summer in only his 20th innings (a record). ramprakash, the leading run scorer in 2006, was the first man to score 2,000 runs in a season since the australian mike hussey in 2001, and the first englishman to do it since ramprakash himself back in 1995. he also became the first man to score over 150 runs in an innings in five consecutive matches. he ended with 2,278 runs at an average of 103.54, only the sixth man to average over one hundred over eight or more completed first-class innings in an english season. surrey gained promotion back into the first division. his form led some commentators to say that the england selectors should consider him for that winter's ashes tour: mike selvey called him "the best technician of his generation with a good record in trying circumstances in australia" and said that he should be considered as a possible replacement for marcus trescothick.