RAVI Bopara is not keen on coming back to Garon Park with Essex Cricket Club.

Bopara lined up at the Southend venue for his benefit match on Sunday.

But the England all-rounder remains against making a return to the ground Essex decided to stop playing at back in 2011.

“If I’m being brutally honest about it and saying what I really do feel then I wouldn’t really want to play first class cricket here,” Bopara told Echosport.

“That’s just my opinion and I feel as though there are better places for us to play at around the county and places that are also a lot closer to where the players live.

“But it was good to come back here, even though it was still cold!”

Essex played regularly in Southend for 105 years before controversially pulling the plug four years ago.

However, despite not wanting to make a return, Garon Park does still hold happy memories for Bopara.

“The last time I played here was really, really good for me,” recalled Bopara.

“I scored 178 against Leicestershire and then we bowled them out for 34 which was great.

“Making the long drive down here certainly brought back a few memories and it was another enjoyable afternoon.”

Bopara’s side which featured Essex team-mates James Foster, Ryan ten Doeschate and Jaik Mickleburgh was beaten off the final ball in a light hearted Twenty20 clash Bopara scored 67 not out in his team’s 166/5 before the Southend Festival side chased down the total for the loss of five wickets with Leigh on Sea’s Dean Waller scoring an impressive 72.

The game was the latest event in an action packed benefit year for Bopara.

But it has not been a great season for Essex and Bopara is hoping the team can secure more success next term.

“I think it was an average season finishing third in the league and it was sad to not win any silverware either,” said the 30-year-old.

“But I do believe we have a strong squad and hopefully we can do much better next year now.”