Bopara oozes belief

28 November 2007

Ravi Bopara has impressed in Sri Lanka © Getty Images

Essex all-rounder Ravi Bopara arrived in Sri Lanka believing he would play in all three Tests - and that confidence may be rewarded with a Test debut at Asgiriya this weekend.

He enhanced his chances with the impression he made in the five-wicket victory over a Sri Lankan second string.

Bopara, 22, is competing with close friend Owais Shah for the number six spot and perhaps edged ahead in the rivalry with an eye-catching display against the Sri Lanka Board President’s XI.

He batted aggressively, top-scoring with 47 in the first innings, fielded tidily and also claimed three top-order scalps with his medium pace, grasping the chance to take the new ball offered by injuries to others.

“My ambition was to come out here and play all three Test matches; to prepare myself for all three,” said Bopara.

“You have to come away thinking that you are going to play, otherwise you under-prepare yourself mentally.”

Bopara’s head to head with Shah was one of the sub plots of the three-day match at the Nondescripts Cricket Club, although he insists he was oblivious to the contest within the contest.

“I have not seen it like that, I have been hearing about it more and more just recently but I have not thought about the Test match team at all since I have been here,” he said.

“I am not a man to think too far ahead, I like to do what I am doing and enjoy the moment.

“That may seem strange but it’s true. I am just enjoying the experience of going out and playing competitive cricket.

“We are good mates, he’s a fine player, who I have always thought is one of the best I have seen on the county circuit.

“He has a lot of talent and belief, and if it is between me and him and he gets selected I hope he goes and scores as many runs as he can for England. If it is me I hope to go out and do exactly the same.”

Bopara has sought advice from various decorated players, including Indian great Sachin Tendulkar.

But he has perhaps taken most from his Essex environment and used it for his own devices: Ronnie Irani’s attitude, Darren Gough’s thoughts on reverse swing and Graham Gooch’s approach to batting.

Evidence of the latter came on the final afternoon of England’s run chase when, despite only being on two, he lofted Jehan Mubarak’s off-spin for a huge straight six.

“I had been watching him from the side and he was throwing it up quite high, it was turning and some of our guys were getting hit on the pads,” recalled Bopara.

“Mid-on was still up and I said to myself: ’Would Graham Gooch be blocking this? Would he be patting it back like that?’

Bopara has worked hard at his game

“It came into my mind that he would launch it back over his head, so I thought why not? If England’s greatest batsmen would do it, why not?”

A more fearsome drive, during the first innings, has diminished Sri Lanka’s spin bowling options for the forthcoming series.

Leg-spinner Kaushal Lokuarachchi was cracked on his bowling hand and has since undergone an operation on his dislocated right index finger, which will keep him sidelined for two months.

Not much fazes Bopara and he is certainly not daunted by the prospect of facing world-record chasing spinner Muttiah Muralitharan on his home turf.

“I have been asked to come away on a Test tour and if I wasn’t good enough I wouldn’t be here,” he said.

“He is obviously a difficult man to play against, there is a lot of talk about him but we tend to forget there is another bloke who has to bowl from the other end, so there are places to score.

“I have been told that the biggest thing when you come into international cricket is the mental side of the game. You have to back yourself: your ability, your technique, everything.

“And I back mine. I back myself to be successful as a Test cricketer.

“I don’t know how big the step is up from County Championship cricket but hopefully in the near future I should find out - I don’t have any doubts.”