Ravi Bopara could end 12-month Test wait against South Africa (From Gazette)

Ravi Bopara could end 12-month Test wait against South Africa

1:27pm Monday 16th July 2012 in Essex County Cricket Club news

RAVI Bopara is set to play in his first Test match for almost a year after being named in England’s squad to face South Africa at The Oval this week.

Bopara is one of the six batsmen in a 13-strong squad which also includes Steven Finn and Graham Onions, who can therefore still hope to oust incumbent Tim Bresnan as the third seamer.

It was last August, at the same venue, that Bopara won his 12th Test cap — when Jonathan Trott was injured, for the innings victory over India which completed a 4-0 series whitewash.

Following Eoin Morgan’s loss of form last winter, the Essex batsman seemed certain to return at the start of this summer — only to injure his thigh playing for his county the day before the squad was announced for the first Investec Test against the West Indies at Lord’s.

Jonathan Bairstow was therefore chosen to make his debut. But the young Yorkshireman did not do enough in that 2-0 series win to retain his place for the first of three matches against South Africa, starting on Thursday and which will decide who tops the International Cricket Council rankings at the end of this summer.

National selector Geoff Miller noted 27-year-old Bopara’s hard work to push himself back into the Test reckoning for such a high-profile match.

“We have played some very good cricket over the last couple of months in all formats to win series against the West Indies and Australia — and after a month of limited-overs cricket, preparations are now under way for what is sure to be a very competitive Test series against South Africa.

“We know we will need to play excellent cricket to win this three-match series, and the squad will be determined to start with a strong performance this week during the first Investec Test and set the tone for the rest of the series.

“Ravi Bopara has worked hard to regain his place in the Test squad, following some injury concerns earlier in the season, and is the only player included who is yet to play a Test match this summer.”

Miller also admitted he wanted to see a big performance from Bopara against the South Africans.

“We always hope for something big from all our players when we select them in the England side and over the last few years they’ve produced on most occasions,” he added.

“Yes, we would like to see something big from him, but he’s only part of the side so he needs to actually perform to cement his place.”