Bopara gets second chance for England
Ravi Bopara could be given the chance to revive his Test career at The Oval on Thursday after being drafted into the squad to replace the absent Michael Vaughan.
Bopara has a disastrous record in his three Tests for England, but has won his way back into the hearts of the selectors after enjoying a superb season for Essex.
Vaughan ruled himself out of the fourth Test after standing down as skipper on Sunday, leaving Bopara with an opportunity to stake a regular Test claim. Bopara was handed his Test chance in the tour of Sri Lanka in December 2007, but scored just 42 runs in his five innings, including three ducks, at an average of 8.4.
But the 23-year-old has bounced back in fine style this summer, scoring 957 runs for Essex so far at an average of 68.11, while also taking 20 wickets at 25.5.
And his coach at Essex, former England opener Graham Gooch, believes Bopara is ready to fill the void made by Vaughan, both in the top order and the bowling department.
“England are not strong enough to play five bowlers, so they need batsmen who can bowl and Ravi fits the bill,” Gooch said. “He is a top class batsman and we might see him consolidate a position in the England team at number three, four or five for many years to come.”
Pace men Stuart Broad and Steve Harmison keep their place in the 13-man squad for The Oval, although England are set to stick with their four-pronged bowling attack with Bopara and Paul Collingwood offering medium paced options.
It was also a day to remember for Nottinghamshire batsman Samit Patel, who was drafted into the Twenty20 and one-day squad.
England take on South Africa in a Twenty20 match on Wednesday 20 August and then begin a five match one-day series against the Proteas side two days later.
Patel, 23, wins his first call-up and joins wicketkeeper Matt Prior in the squad after he was preferred to Test keeper Tim Ambrose.
Andrew Flintoff also returns, replacing Hampshire’s Dimitri Mascarenhas.