Mark Ramprakash, the Surrey cricket captain, is enjoying a benefit year at the Oval. On November 19 there will be a gala ball featuring friends from the BBC TV programme Strictly Come Dancing, which he won two years ago. His 100 first-class centuries, completed against Yorkshire this year, will be marked at a special lunch on December 18. He will be spending his birthday with his wife and two daughters. Mark Ramprakash is 39 today. RGT

Other birthdays

Tracy Edwards, yachtswoman, 46; the Rev Canon the Lord Pilkington of Oxenford, Canon Emeritus, Canterbury Cathedral, 75; Jean Rankine, deputy director, British Museum, 1983-97, 67; G. W. Tremlett, author, journalist and bookseller, 69; Sir Denys Wilkinson, Vice-Chancellor, Sussex University, 1976-87, 86.