Bopara gets team backing

Ravi Bopara prepares for more hard work © Getty Images

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England have pledged to support Ravi Bopara as the all-rounder attempts to battle his way out of his indifferent form to make an impact in the one-day series against New Zealand.

The 22-year-old Essex all-rounder has been regarded as one of England’s bright young hopes since he first broke into the limited overs side during last year’s World Cup.

Bopara showed great potential in helping England win a nail-biting showdown with India at Old Trafford last summer, but has struggled since and after enduring a poor Test series against Sri Lanka before Christmas he has taken the same form into the current series against New Zealand.

Although he battled to 23 during Tuesday’s 10-wicket loss in Hamilton, he struggled for rhythm throughout his innings before chipping a full toss straight to deep mid-wicket.

Captain Paul Collingwood believes he is a future talent and one that is worth persevering with in the short and long term.

“We will tell him what a good player he is,” said Collingwood. “He’s an exceptional player and we’ve all seen him play important innings for England.

“It’s up to all 11 players plus the support staff in the squad to get behind players when they’re going through a bad run of form.

“That’s what a team is all about, you have to back each other up and have to stick together and hopefully come out stronger next time.”

Bopara was one of 11 players in the squad who decided to attend “voluntary” net sessions at Eden Park on Wednesday as England attempt to make amends from their defeat the night before.

Collingwood, Cook, Owais Shah, Ryan Sidebottom and Stuart Broad chose to rest ahead of Friday’s third match, which they must win to retain an interest in the series.

Bopara is integral to England's future plans

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England were given a dressing down in the immediate aftermath of the game following their disappointing display and Collingwood, as captain, must now try to lift the squad before that next outing.

“I think what you have to be is honest as an individual and really talk as a team about where you’ve gone wrong,” said Collingwood. “There will be people who want to shout, but it’s a difficult one.

“There have already been a lot of words spoken in the dressing room and we don’t want those sort of performances again. We feel we have let ourselves down and the supporters down and because of that there are people in the dressing room who are hurting.

“The good thing is we still have a lot of talent but we have to get that talent to come out and hopefully produce a performance we know we can provide.”

“It would have been a good thing if we’d have had a week until the next game so we can really talk about things and get in the nets and do plenty of work.

“But if we turn it around quickly it could be a good thing, work in our favour and get on a roll again and hopefully win the last three games.”