mark ramprakash was born in bushey, hertfordshire, and is of indo-guyanese and english descent. his father, born in british guiana, was indo-guyanese and his mother was english. he attended gayton high school (now harrow high school), and then harrow weald sixth form college. his first local club was bessborough cricket club in headstone lane where he showed early promise as a fast bowler before concentrating on his batting. he played his first match for middlesex aged just 17, scoring 63 not out against yorkshire, and top-scoring with 71 in his second match against essex at chelmsford (he was still a sixth-form student at the time). he scored his maiden first-class century at headingley against yorkshire in 1989, and captained the england u-19 team. he came to national prominence when, at the age of 18, he won the man-of-the match award in the 1988 natwest trophy final after his innings of 56 helped middlesex beat worcestershire.