Bopara has chance to shine

It will be interesting to see how Ravi Bopara goes today, assuming that he comes into the England side and bats at 6 given Bell's injury. I appreciate that I'm in a minority, but I see him as Collingwood's ultimate replacement whenever the ginger ninja decides to retire - a completely different approach but a batsman who can bowl a bit and is also a good fielder - he should start his career batting at 6 and then move his way up the order to 4 as he gains confidence and is successful just like Collingwood has done. And let's not forget, he was one of the successes of the 2007 World Cup for England, only to fade away again.

He's been in good form for the England Lions, winning one match in which he got 150+ and 4 wickets almost single-handedly, although as always he's been a bit hit and miss. But he should be confident given that he scored a hundred for Essex yesterday in the Twenty20 with the next highest score from his colleagues being 21.