Injured Bopara unlikely to bowl if picked for first Test against Sri Lanka - Cricket News Update
Prolific England all-rounder, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RS-Bopara-c2373, is unlikely to take the ball if picked for the opening Test of the two-match series against Sri Lanka starting at Galle on Monday, March 26, 2012.
This was revealed by an http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) spokesman on Thursday.
"Ravi Bopara strained his left side in the first innings and is unlikely to bowl during the Test series,” said an England and Wales Cricket Board spokesman in a statement. “He will be available for selection as a specialist batsman," he added further.
The 26-year-old promising all-rounder had sustained a side strain while batting in the first innings of the opening tour match against the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 Board XI in Colombo last week, which the tourists had won by an innings and 15 runs.
Bopara, the right-handed batsman and a handy right-arm medium pacer, was also included in the squad that played the second warm-up match against Sri Lanka Development XI at Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo earlier this week. In the match, which England won
by four wickets, Bopara bowled with discomfort. However, his painstaking 66 in the second innings offered the selectors food for thought.
The right-handed batsman will be contesting with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TT-Bresnan-c2711 for selection in the squad for the opening Test.
To date Bopara has played 12 Tests for England scoring 553 runs at an average of 34.56. He also has one Test wicket in his bag.
Another injury scare for the tourists is ace pacer http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SCJ-Broad-c2465 who has recently recovered from an ankle injury he had sustained shortly before the opening tour match against the Sri Lanka Board XI last week and was withdrawn from the contest.
England’s record in the subcontinent is not much impressive. Recently they have succumbed to a 3-0 Test series whitewash at the hands of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/United-Arab-Emirates-c3033 earlier this year, and must be eager to make a turnaround in the two-match Test series
against Sri Lanka, to be played in latter’s backyard.
The second and final Test between the outfits gets underway in Colombo on April 3, 2012.
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