We surely have to give credit for division one performances... and that suggests one of the following:
Code:
Ramps made 11x 50+ scores from 23 innings (big contribution in 48% of innings) and converted 6, 55%
Hussey made 10x 50+ scores from 20 innings (big contribution in 50% of innings) and converted 3, 30%
Shah made 14x 50+ scores from 30 innings (big contribution in 47% of innings) and converted 7, 50%
Joyce made 16x 50+ scores from 29 innings (big contribution in 55% of innings) but converted 3, 19%
Key made 12x 50+ scores from 27 innings (big contribution in 44% of innings) but converted 4, 33%
The leading division 2 candidates would be Mike Hussey (44% x 50, 38% converted, Andy Flower (38%x50, 56% converted) and Phil Jaques (43%x50, 40% converted). At first glance I don't see how any can be in the reckoning on those figures (that would need someone to make a case that the pitches were tougher, that the division 2 attacks faced were actually greater and so on).
Personally, I reckon any batsman getting this award when scoring predominently at Kent, Middlesex or Surrey ought to be disqualified in that Boycott's mother could bat on those pitches... but stats wise it has to be Ramps... with 50+ contributions in half his games and the best conversion rate of any div 1 contender... to say nothing of the highest average.
I'll hold fire on my vote in the hope that someone can argue for one of the others (perhaps one of the Husseys) on the grounds that they faced more Testing pitches.