In-form Ravi Bopara left out of England Test squad to face Pakistan
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Essex-c783 batsman Ravi Bopara has been overlooked by England’s selectors for the forthcoming first Test against Pakistan at Trent Bridge – and that’s despite two centuries in his last County Championship match.
Eoin Morgan, still viewed by many as a one-day specialist, has been given the nod ahead of Bopara, as Ian Bell has been ruled out of the entire series with the broken metatarsal he suffered in the one-day international series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747.
“Ian's absence provides other batsmen with the chance to impress against a world class http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 bowling attack,” said England’s chief selector Geoff Miller, “and while Ravi has been in good form, we have created our quality through consistency and we need to see a more from Eoin.”
Pace bowler http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Yorkshire-c867 county colleague Tim Bresnan, while Graeme Swann and Steven Finn return after being rested for recent matches. Kevin Pietersen is fit to play.
It is the selection of Morgan over Bopara that has created the most headlines though.
Essex’s Bopara hit 142 and 102 in his side’s LV County Championship draw with Yorkshire last week, and followed that up with an unbeaten 88 in yesterday’s nine-wicket CB 40 win over http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Northamptonshire-c824, but it is the exciting 23-year-old Morgan who will be lining up against Pakistan, where he’ll be determined to take his success in limited overs cricket into the longer form of the game.
He scored just 44 and 37 in his first two Test innings, both against Bangladesh, and will now look to improve upon that against a Pakistan side who a buoyant after beating http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 for the first time in 13 attempts at the weekend.
Pakistan recorded a nervy victory at Headingley on Saturday when, starting the fourth day needing just 40 runs to win with seven wickets in hand, they eventually won by just three wickets, ensuring that the ‘Spirit of Cricket’ series ended in a 1-1 draw.
Ricky Ponting, the Australia captain, thinks that England are in for tough Tests.
“I think it will be a decent series,” said the 35-year-old. “If Pakistan bowl as well as they bowled in the two Tests against us, I'm sure they will trouble the English batsmen.
“With Pakistan on the rise and England a good settled Test match side, I think you're going to see some entertaining games. I think England will win. If you look at their side, I think they're a more complete team.
“It will be an interesting series to watch. I'll certainly be keeping an eye on what's happening.”
Tags: