ESSEX and England star Ravi Bopara knows a place in this summer’s Ashes squad is at stake when he prepares to face the West Indies today (Thursday).

The former Hainault & Clayhall cricketer has been given the nod ahead of established Three Lions batsmen Michael Vaughan and Ian Bell for the two-Test series against the Windies, where he is expected to provide the solution to the team’s troublesome number three spot.

Just 23, Bopara is viewed very much as the future of England cricket. He is one of the nation’s hottest and most flamboyant talents with the bat, while his medium pace bowling will have also worked in his favour during selection.

The country’s selectors have now put faith in the youngster, dubbed Pup by his colleagues, giving the clearest indication yet that they believe youth is the way forward.

And Bopara knows that this is his best chance to shine, before the Australians come to town this summer.

“If I get runs there is a chance for me to bat at number three in the Ashes as well,” said Bopara. “It is nice to know my opportunity is here again.

“It was a bit of a surprise to hear that Ian Bell, Owais Shah and Michael Vaughan weren’t in the squad.

“I thought with Flintoff being injured one of them might have got a call-up but I am happy. The guys have backed me and said ‘you are the man to do it’ and I want to prove them right.”

Bopara would have been forgiven for feeling a little aggrieved the last time he was dropped from the Test side.

The Essex all-rounder smashed his way to his first century for his country against the Windies during England’s winter tour earlier this year. But he accepted the decision, and his patience has paid dividends.

“I had a feeling it would be me. Even coming off the back of a hundred I realised Owais deserved a run in the side. It was disappointing but also understandable,” he said.

Indeed, Shah’s swift removal from the reckoning will serve as a sharp reminder to Bopara that he will have to produce immediate results if he is to be considered for a regular place in the team.

The young cricketer has recently returned from a stint with the King’s XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League, where his main contribution was to blast 84 runs to help his side to victory over England team-mate Kevin Pietersen’s Bangalore side.