Ravi Bopara sure to be a hit again, says his captain

Point to prove: Ravi Bopara was axed from the Ashes squad after failing in the first four Tests

10 April 2012

Ravi Bopara has had a summer to endure rather than enjoy but England captain Andrew Strauss is backing him to come good in the one-day series against Australia, which began today at the Brit Oval.

Bopara (below) was axed from the Ashes squad after failing in the first four Tests and was then dismissed cheaply in the first of two
rained-wrecked Twenty20 internationals at Old Trafford.

Memory of the Essex batsman's three centuries in consecutive games against the West Indies is fading but Strauss, who is due to open with him later today in the absence of injured Joe Denly, is confident he will rediscover his former swagger.

He said: "Ravi played some very good cricket against the West Indies. He had a tough time against Australia but we have to keep things in perspective.

"Cricketers go through periods of good form and bad form — we're not robots. If you are a good player to start with then you will remain a good player, even when you are out of nick."

England can overtake Australia in third place in the one-day rankings if they win this seven-match series by a three-game margin.

Strauss put them in after winning the toss today and Adil Rashid underlined his reputation as one of England's most exciting young cricketers with an excellent spell of leg-spin.

Although he did not take a wicket, 21-year-old Rashid conceded only two boundaries as he bowled 10 overs off the reel for 37 runs, putting the brakes on Australia as they threatened to set a big target.

After Tim Paine was run out by Paul Collingwood for a duck in the third over, Shane Watson and Cameron White shared a stand of 82 in 15.5 overs.
But Watson was caught and bowled by Collingwood off a leading edge and White departed six overs later for 55, run out by Graeme Swann's superb throw from long-leg.

On a true pitch, Australia would have been looking at a total close to 300 but they lost momentum and Collingwood struck again with the wicket of Aussie captain Michael Clarke for 45.

First one-day international — The Oval: Australia 196-4 (43 overs) v England
LV County Championship, Div 1 — Trent Bridge: Yorkshire 256, Notts 153-4. Old Trafford: Lancs 236, Sussex 11-0 (rain). Edgbaston: Warwicks 443, Worcs 154 & 41-0. Riverside: Somerset 174 & 41-0, Durham 272 (no play today, drawn)
Div 2 — Derby: Kent 281, Derbyshire 444-2 (Rogers 208, Park 102no). Bristol: Surrey 183 & 33-0, Gloucs 523-7dec (Gidman 176). Grace Road: Leics 282, Glamorgan 157-7. Northampton: Middlesex 251 & 207, Northants 239 & 65-2

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Ravi Bopara sure to be a hit again, says his captain

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