England drop Ravi Bopara and bring in Jonathan Trott for Ashes finale

[Sachinism]

England will give Jonathan Trott a Test debut against Australia at The Oval next week as they seek to reverse the horrors of Headingley by pulling off a victory that would regain the Ashes. They will resist the clamour for mass changes after an innings defeat in the fourth Test, with Ravi Bopara the only batsman to suffer. Bopara will be dropped, with Ian Bell taking his place at No3. England took soundings from Essex about Bopara's form and confidence before their lengthy deliberations at Trent Bridge today, and they strengthened their conviction that his game had deteriorated to such an extent that he would have to be jettisoned for the fifth Test – even if he did manage a morale-boosting 52 not out against Middlesex at Lord's today. England's coach, Andy Flower, still values Bopara highly and his presence on the forthcoming one-day and Test tours to South Africa looks assured. Full Story: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/aug/14/jonathan-trott-ashes-debut-oval-test

[DomainK]

This was coming for Bopara. He has a few things to sort out in domestic cricket before he can make a come back. England's middle order still remains fragile. They will have to do very well to win this one.

[Kashmir_boy]

i would have kept bopara and dropped his position to 6 or 7, number 3 position is the most important and vital and an important person needs to play there, so prior for me should be at 3 ian bell imo should be dropped for key but hope bopara returns to form

[Lord]

Bopara should have been retained but demoted down.

[Feed]

Bopara still the future for England Ravi Bopara remains the 'future of English cricket' despite being dropped for this week's Ashes decider at The Oval. More... Bopara still the future for England 18/08/2009 3:14 PM PA Sport Ravi Bopara remains the 'future of English cricket' despite being dropped for this week's Ashes decider at The Oval. The Essex batsman's run of low scores culminated in just one run from two attempts in England's embarrassing innings-and-80-run defeat at Headingley. That result levelled the series at 1-1 and handed the initiative back to Australia as it seeks to retain the Ashes. England's selectors reacted by leaving 24-year-old Bopara out of its Oval equations, replacing him with Jonathan Trott. But on Monday Bopara was named as an ever-present in three separate limited-overs squads - which were also notable for the inclusion of injury-troubled lynchpin all-rounder Andrew Flintoff and the uncapped Joe Denly, as well as the omission of key batsman Kevin Pietersen as he continues his recovery from ankle surgery. National selector Geoff Miller wasted no time making it clear how highly Bopara's talent is still prized, after the NatWest Series and Champions Trophy squad was announced alongside those for two Twenty20s against Australia and for a one-off one-day international against Ireland. "Ravi Bopara is an exciting player," he told Sky Sports News. "He has been released from this Test match but he is a quality player, and we see him as the future of English cricket." Miller also had to address the issues surrounding Flintoff's potentially heavy workload - the 31-year-old retires from Test cricket after The Oval because of chronic knee trouble - and the reported recent setback in Pietersen's recuperation. England is hoping Flintoff's decision to concentrate solely on limited-overs cricket will pay dividends. "We are hoping he is going to be able to play as many of those games as possible - because that is what he has set himself to do," Miller said of Flintoff. Pietersen's first realistic target now is the start of England's Test and ODI winter in his native country. "We will now look for Kevin to be a part of the side for the tour of South Africa at the end of the year," Miller confirmed to BBC Radio 5 Live. "It is disappointing for Kevin and it is disappointing for us, but obviously he is very much a part of the future of this team in both five and one-day cricket." The same does not necessarily appear to be true for Steve Harmison. The fast bowler is in England's current Test plans but has not played an ODI since April and does not feature in the latest squads. However, Miller insists: "It is not the end of his (one-day) international career - because he has not made himself unavailable, so the opportunity is always there." "If we feel there are better players suited for the job we need on all kind of surfaces around the world, we will go in that direction." "We will see how Steve reacts. I am sure he will go back to Durham and put in the performances. Then it is our decision." Wicketkeeper Matt Prior is back in the fold - after James Foster was preferred for the mid-summer World Twenty20 - and Owais Shah is retained. Miller explained: "Matt Prior has proved himself as a very, very good all-round player. His wicketkeeping has improved, and he is a quality batsman." Denly, meanwhile, is already hoping ODI cricket can prove a stepping stone. "Test cricket is the ultimate for any cricketer," he said. "I hope I can now push for a place in the Test squad."

[Texy]

Bopara is an excellent batsmen.... He did very well in IPL....Eng would be stupid to not have him selected... Wish he was playing for India.... I remember during IPL II.... he said he enjoyed playing for Kings XI ...since he understands and speaks punjabi, he was able to gel well with his teammates and got in touch with his roots

[Lord]

Bopara is an excellent batsmen.... He did very well in IPL....Eng would be stupid to not have him selected... Wish he was playing for India.... I remember during IPL II.... he said he enjoyed playing for Kings XI ...since he understands and speaks punjabi, he was able to gel well with his teammates and got in touch with his roots

ya i know,we know he played very well for us,infact we missed after he went home n after Jayawardena's injury,we were left with a batting line-up of entirely lefties,which other teams n that became the reason of us not reaching semis despite being so close he is a real talent,has all the shots n can get going.in tests too i believe he can succeed provided he doesnt bat at 3.that is not his place