Ravi Bopara shocked by omission from England ODI squad against India
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Version 0 of 1. Ravi Bopara said he was in shock after being left out of England’s squad for the one-day series against India but he has not given up hope of being involved in this winter’s World Cup. Bopara, the 29-year-old Essex all-rounder, has been a consistent performer with bat and ball over the past few years in limited-overs cricket and last October was named England’s one-day player of the year. However, a week after scoring a century for the England Lions against Sri Lanka A in Worcester, he was surprisingly omitted from the 15-man squad for the five-match series against India that starts in Bristol on Monday. “It came as a massive shock,” he said. “When you get that phone call from the selector you generally think it’s just to give you a heads up you’re in. But this time he told me that he’s very sorry and disappointed and immediately I was shocked, thinking: ‘This can’t be happening.’ But it is, that’s life and I’ve just got to get on with it.” Bopara received that call from James Whitaker, the national selector, half an hour before the squad was announced on Monday evening. “He told me: ‘Look, you know you played well for the Lions but you’re not going to be featured in this squad. That doesn’t rule you out for future tours,’” Bopara said. “He told me I’d get a call from Peter Moores [the England coach] to explain further and that was it. “My initial reaction was shock. I’ve played a lot of good cricket this season, building on my one-day player of the year award last year. I thought I was in a good place. It doesn’t add up to me. “I could feel sorry for myself but I won’t. I’ve been through a lot of highs and lows in my career, probably more than anyone, so I will come back from this.” Whether or not the Essex player can come back in time for the World Cup is another matter. With less than six months to go before England start their campaign in Australia and New Zealand, the timing is bad for Bopara. Yet he is not giving up hope of a recall. “With the World Cup so close it makes it worse but there is a series in Sri Lanka coming up before Christmas and hopefully I can be involved,” he said. England play seven ODIs in Sri Lanka between 26 November and 16 December. There is then a triangular series against Australia and India, with a minimum of four ODIs and possibly a final. “We haven’t won a 50-over World Cup so the time is right and I feel it’s my time as well,” Bopara said. “I’m desperate to be in that side and hopefully my experience will come through and I think we need experienced players at the World Cup. Hopefully I can provide [it] and the coach and the captain can see that.” Asked if he felt it would be foolish to waste the experience he has gained over 108 one-day internationals, including two World Cups, Bopara said: “I’d like to see it that way but I can’t think for the guys selecting the team. “I’ve had a good season so far and I’ve got to step it up another gear. I guess not being included this time has given me more motivation than I ever thought I could have. I want to prove the selectors, the coach and the captain wrong and give them a real serious headache.” One major statement Bopara could make before the summer is out is helping Essex to victory in the Royal London One‑Day Cup. The county have qualified for the quarter-finals of the domestic 50-over competition and Bopara said: “It would be nice in a Lord’s final to get a hundred. I’m certainly sitting here imagining it as we speak and I’d love to be lifting that trophy with the man-of-the-match medal around my neck. It would be a dream come true.” It might also be the catalyst for another. |