Bopara wants to stay at Essex
England batsman Ravi Bopara has said that he wants to stay with Essex and isn't interested in a move elsewhere.
Rumours have started to circulate within the media that http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Warwickshire-c862 made an initial enquiry to see if he was available. However, Bopara and Essex have both confirmed that there is no truth in the rumours.
Bopara made his debut for Essex eight years ago during the 2002 season. He has been in and out of the England team ever since and says he hopes to play well for Essex so he can earn a recall to the England
Test match side.
There are many positive reasons for Bopara staying at a county where he is well liked and admired. A solid start to the county season next year could mean he is in line to earn an England test re-call.
A positive decision
This is a positive decision because Bopara is an important player at Essex. He is admired and respected by fellow players, coaches and fans at the county. He would not enjoy this level of immediate support
if he joined another county.
He is guaranteed a place in the Essex team. He would have to work his way into the first team at another county but he knows he will always have a place in the Essex team because he's a quality player.
Bopara has grown up playing club cricket in Essex and knows the area. He knows the towns where http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Essex-c783 play home matches and he knows the set-up of the club. He is used to every aspect of the county and
has very little reason to change.
He said: "I've not spoken to any county. I don't know where that has come from.
I am an Essex player through and through. I've been brought up there, and played all my cricket there. My friends and family are there.
I do want to play for Essex. That is my first choice. I think we do need to go up into Division One (of the championship) again."
An England Test place
Bopara lost his place in the England Test match side during the Ashes last year. He was too inconsistent and this is something that he has been working on ever since.
He has to start the season well for Essex next year. The only way he will get back into the Test match side is if he scores big hundreds at county level. He has the majority
of the winter to prepare well for next season.
He added: "I am very disappointed we got relegated this year. I cannot explain
how much that hurts me, because I want to play first division cricket and I want the lads at Essex to play first division cricket as well.
Our aim now is to win Division Two. That is a good challenge."
Betting advice
Bopara is a very efficient player that can score runs in any form of the game and at any level. He is likely to feature in England's limited overs teams in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 this
winter. How he performs in the winter will give a good indication of how he's likely to start the season next year.
Bopara isn't getting too much of a look in during the current one-day international series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755. However, this is simply because the rest of the England batting
order is in good form. Don't be afraid to back Bopara to get a hundred when he gets a chance.
There is a very strong chance that Bopara could be the highest run scorer in English domestic cricket next season.
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