Surrey's Mark Ramprakash may be struggling to find his 100th career hundred this season, but one team-mate concedes he stills holds the Indian sign over him for the time being.

Ramprakash struck two centuries early on this season, but since moving within one of the big milestone has barely got into double figures.

Australian pace bowler Matt Nicholson once dismissed the former England star in a Boxing Day Ashes Test at the MCG in 1998.

The Brit Oval run-machine was one of four victims Nicolson claimed in the match, which would prove to be his only five-day game in the Baggy Green.

The Earlsfield-based all-rounder - who has a first-class century against Yorkshire to his name already this season - is in his second year with the Brown Caps after being named the club's bowler of the year in 2007.

But while Nicholson, who has claimed nearly 400 first class wickets, is eyeing a trophy-winning swan song to his county career, he concedes the Strictly Come Dancing star still has the bragging rights over him in the dressing room.

"I remember I got him with a pretty good ball that nipped back through the gate and took the top of the off-stump, which is what you are aiming to do," he said.

"There wasn't a lot he could do about it to be fair. I only got four Test wickets, so I remember them all pretty clearly.

"I have a little chip at him about it every now and then, but he has gone on to have a magnificent first-class career and has certainly still got me covered in terms of that."

Nicholson never played for his country after Christmas 1998, but formed a lethal Pura Cup attack for New South Wales, alongside Nathan Bracken and Stuart Clark - which included taking seven wickets in the 2005 final.

Surrey lost their first Liverpool Victoria County Championship match of the season to leaders Somerset last week after an encouraging start to the new campaign under Mark Butcher. Nicholson finished wicketless.

The 33-year-old claims the side are yet to play like a first-class team this season, but the former Australia A player, who first made an impression in England with Northamptonshire, reckons they are close to clicking.

"I'm pretty happy with my career. I have got a lot out of myself and I would like to finish with winning something over here with Surrey," he added.

"I think we have the ability to do that, it is just a case of putting it all together at the same time. If we can do that we will be hard to stop.

"We are still in there. We've lost one game and there is still ten to go.

"Winning a trophy here would be something I'd cherish if we were able to do it."