Posts tagged with ‘Ravi Bopara’

The selection of Luke Wright and Liam Plunkett for England’s tour of South Africa this winter will surprise many. The lack of reserve batsmen suggests that England will continue with Prior at six and five bowlers. Steven Davies is the reserve wicketkeeper, and Adil Rashid will understudy Graeme Swann.

John Bracewell, the Gloucestershire coach and one-day guru, has made an interesting point regarding England’s ODI batting woes. He suggests that Ravi Bopara and Owais Shah are playing for their own places rather than the team. Consider this in the light of selection policy, however, and it is the selectors who are at fault for fostering this environment.

Well, it didn’t take long. Here is Scyld Berry calling for Mark Ramprakash to be called up for the Oval in a desparate, end of the world bid to win the Ashes. Now, I have the greatest respect for Ramps, but Berry is still living in the 1920s if he thinks that recalling someone after 8 years out of the team is the way to go.

Apparantly, four innings are ample time in which to condemn a young player who had previously scored 3 consecutive Test centuries. It is acceptable to do this because those centuries were “only” scored against the West Indies.

As emotive as England’s late escape was yesterday, the team will be under no illusions – they were thoroughly outplayed. With the 2nd Test following just a few days behind, Strauss will need to regroup his team fast. Here are the areas that are of concern.

Shane Warne has been up to his usual mind-games in the press again. This time Ravi Bopara is the victim, having his temperament questioned.

To be honest, this was probably as far as they were expected to get. That they managed to bounce back from the humiliation against Holland was creditable, and the victory over India was a feather in their cap.

We thought that it was a new dawn. We felt that a definitive statement had been made about the future direction of the England team. We felt there would be no more passengers or shirkers. We were wrong.

If the 1st Test against West Indies has taught us anything it is that test cricket doesn’t care a damn about reputations. Two of the worlds finest batsmen, Kevin Pietersen and Shiv Chanderpaul, faced just 7 deliveries between them, whilst it was the likes of Swann and Onions who took the limelight.

Ravi Bopara has done in 1 innings what Ian Bell hasn’t managed in 31. He has scored a century batting at no. 3 for England.