http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c749 vs. India: Ravi Bopara hopes to make it to the playing eleven
Ravi Bopara is aiming to cement his place in the English side's playing XI. The player asserted that he was not concerned about the competition he faces to get into the side and will seize any opportunity that comes his way.
'Puppy' was called into the English squad for the ICC World Cup as a replacement for injured Eoin Morgan. Morgan’s injury opened a spot in their line-up and Bopara and Michael Yardy were in contention for that vacant post.
Bopara said, “It is a big opportunity to get back into the side. I have got two opportunities so far, one in the warm-up game and then in the opening match. I haven't thought about that competition [with Yardy].”
The 25-year-old is concentrating on giving it his best during the nets and said, “I am just trying to do my best in every practice session. If you are doing well in the nets, batting well and bowling well, I have got a good chance of making the side.”
The ICC World Cup 2011 is being hosted by three South-Asian sides http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750. The Subcontinent pitches are friendly for batsmen and Bopara thinks that playing in the Indian Premier League will assist him a lot.
Puppy was dropped from the side after he showed a very mediocre performance in the 2009 Ashes series. He concedes that he was over excited in that series and expected too much from himself, which eventually led to his failure.
Bopara usually opens the innings, but this time around he has been allotted a new role in the lower middle order. He will mostly come in as a pinch hitter during the death overs.
The 25-year-old came in at number six in opening match against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Netherlands-c753 which the 1992 finalists narrowly won. He played an un-beaten knock of 30 from 20 deliveries. Although he wanted to bat higher in the order, the player admitted the upper order was performing well and his innings against the Dutch side wasn't enough for him to get a promotion in the batting line-up.
The English side will play the second match of their World Cup campaign against co-hosts India on Sunday, February 27th, at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore. The Indian cricket team is one of the favorites to lift the coveted trophy, while England themselves are amongst top contenders for the cup.
Bangalore is a track which suites spin. The hosts will be looking to include an additional spinner and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Piyush-c82317 Chawla may very well replace Sreesanth in the playing XI.
Bopara is unfazed by this news as he thinks his side are capable of playing spin well. And if the track spins more than usual then the English side also have bowlers who can capitalize on that.
Team India will be missing the services of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Yuvraj-Singh-c2820 who is side lined due to injury. Yuvraj injured his hand during practice sessions when a beamer from Sreesanth hit him on his hand. However, Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar are now fully fit for the match.
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