Buzzin Cricket

There is no doubt that it has been a disappointing week for England’s players after losing the Natwest series to New Zealand on Saturday. However, one man has looked to put this disappointment behind him by performing well for his county. Essex and England all-rounder Ravi Bopara has put has helped put his side in a commanding position against Derbyshire in their County Championship match at Chelmsford.

After only recording 7 in the first innings – where Essex made a positive 404 – Ravi Bopara starred with the ball during Derbyshire’s response. Bowling his medium pace deliveries, he picked up four wickets in nine balls as Derbyshire were dismissed for 271. Derbyshire were originally going well at 260-5, but then Ravi Bopara was introduced to turn the game on its head.

That wasn’t the end of the fun for the England man though. After securing a first innings lead of 133, Essex finished on 59-3 after an explosive innings from Ravi Bopara. It really was his day. He finished up unbeaten on 32 after facing just 25 deliveries.

While we are talking about Ravi Bopara, let’s have a quick word on his international career to date. In all honesty, it hasn’t been as productive as he may have liked. He has played three test matches and averages a rather unflattering 8.40. In the shorter form of the game – where he has had more experience – he averages 27.00 from 26 matches, with his highest score of 58 coming in the recent series against New Zealand.

So what does the future hold for Ravi Bopara’s England career? Well, if I was to bet on England cricket, I would put a lot of money on Ravi Bopara being a significant part of England’s futures. In my eyes, he has that something special about him and although he hasn’t had the desired impact for England – his best days are still to come. He must be patient in waiting for his test place and start scoring big runs in the one-day game, much like he does for his county.

For now though, Ravi Bopara will be looking to continue his fine form for Essex as they look to build a substantial lead on day three of their County Championship game against Derbyshire.