ENGLAND captain Andrew Strauss has backed local cricket sensation Ravi Bopara to dismantle Australia’s bowling attack during the Ashes this summer and to make the number three batting position his own for years to come.
Former Hainault & Clayhall cricketer Bopara has cemented his place in the Test side after becoming only the fifth Englishman to score three consecutive centuries in Tests against the West Indies this year.
A score of 104 in the Caribbean was followed up by tons at Lord’s and Chester-Le-Street in the return series this summer; a feat which has earned him a place in the 16-man preliminary Ashes squad announced last week.
He is expected to retain his position at the crucial number three slot for the first Test against the Aussies at Cardiff on July 8, where he will come up against two of the world’s leading pace bowlers in Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson.
The latter has already indicated that he will be targeting the Essex man when battle commences in a week’s time, although Strauss has backed his young protégé to pick up where he left off against the Windies.
Speaking at a Vodafone sponsored event in Loughton, which saw him and team-mates Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood spar with Olympic boxer James De Gale, Strauss said of Bopara: “At international level, you look at the technique – can they cope with quicker bowling and spinners?
“But you look at the temperament as well, and in Barbados when Fidel Edwards was fizzing those bouncers past his ears Ravi remained calm and that’s what you want to see, a guy that is in control of his game. He’s in great form as well. I think he’s more than capable of batting at number three for England for a long time.
“It’s exciting to have a guy as talented as him in the side and I think he’s going to have a great series.”
Those sentiments were shared by England’s Twenty20 captain Colling-wood, who is likely to bat two places below Bopara during the Ashes.
He insists the 24-year-old’s impressive stint for the Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League (IPL) earlier this year has worked wonders for his confidence.
“Ravi has found his game, by his own admission, but the IPL has been a huge thing for him,” said the Durham all-rounder.
“He’s come back and his confidence has grown immensely and that makes you a stronger person.
“It puts a lot more belief in your ability and technique to do it at the top level. Now he knows he can do it at this level,” the England star added.
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