History will be kind to me because I intend to write it

BOPARA HINTS AT JOINING IPL NEXT SEASON

Ravi Bopara has admitted he could be tempted by the riches of the Indian
Premier League next season if he doesn't get back into the England Test side.

The Essex all-rounder, who made his One Day International debut in February
last year before starring in the World Cup, made his Test bow in December on
the tour to Sri Lanka, but failed with both the bat and the ball and was
dropped.

Bopara, who averaged only 8.40 in the sub-continent, reportedly declined a
six-figure contract from an unnamed IPL franchise so he could work on his game
and earn his England place back.

But after a good start to the county season and no recall in sight, the
23-year-old has admitted he could play in India's Twenty20 tournament next year.

"I am really hungry this season for runs and I am trying to get back into the
England side," he said. "I would do anything to get back into the side.

"I've had a good start to the season but I am trying not to put too much
pressure on myself. I just do what I know and I have practised hard over the
winter and I am practising hard during the season.

"I understood that the England team was going to pick itself for the beginning
of this summer unless there were injuries.

"We won the Test series in New Zealand and the batsmen have done well in the
last few games.

"But I want to prove myself again, and I know that if I am to get back into the
Test team I need to play four-day cricket for Essex. And I didn't play in the
IPL because I didn't want to miss any games. The decision was a gut feeling and
it wasn't too hard to make."

Bopara, who bowls right-arm medium pace, added: "My bowling has been going
really well this season too and is another thing I have been working on.

"I know that I will never have the quickest pace so I am having to be cleverer
with my deliveries. I have been swinging it both ways and have a slower ball.

"I have spoken to a few people from England and the ECB and they have praised
me for not playing in the IPL.

"The Test series in Sri Lanka did not go how I wanted it to go on a personal
note. But I am glad that it has happened this early in my career - it has made
me a better player now.

"I went back and worked on things I knew I had to improve and I can see the
changes already.

"But the decision I made about the IPL was for this season only. It was based on
just what I want to do this season. I don't know what my decisions are going to
be in the future - next year for instance. I will have a look at it further
down the line and see how it goes.

"I have seen a few of the IPL games and the grounds are tiny - people are half
hitting it for six. It looks good fun."

Labels: England, Essex CCC, Indian Premier League, Ravi Bopara, Sri Lanka

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 6:04 pm | Permalink | Comments

VAUGHAN UPBEAT BEFORE SRI LANKA SERIES

England Captain Michael Vaughan was refreshed and confident ahead of his flight to Columbo this evening, despite the fact that Sri Lanka is one of the toughest countries to tour.

Vaughan thinks his time away from the international scene coupled with some new players, fresh from their victorious One-Day series in the sub-continent, will be a recipe for success.

“History will suggest that it is one of the hardest away trips that you can possibly go on,” he said. “It is also one of the most exciting. There are many factors to contend with – the heat, the humidity.

“It is a tough trip, but as the guys in the One-Day side showed if you get your plans right players stick their hands up at important times you can certainly be successful.

“I have been to Sri Lanka twice – I won the first time, and lost 1-0 in the second, but we have always had some really good games of cricket.”

Vaughan continued: “It is certainly a country if you can get your players playing in the right fashion, playing towards a plan and all playing for each other – that’s exactly what we are hoping to do in the next six weeks.

“It is an exciting time as there are a lot of new faces in the squad. They are full of energy and youthfulness, and a bit of cheekiness.

“Hopefully we can take all that onto the trip to Sri Lanka. I am delighted to have so many of the members who were successful in the One-Day party – that is very important that they have had success on the shores of Sri Lanka.

“They have a real confidence factor about them and that’s great for the team. We are just looking forward to it – it is a newish team.

“I feel incredibly refreshed and very hungry to go out and try and be successful," added Vaughan. "I have really enjoyed my time away from the international game over the last three months.

“If we have got a great attitude, work really hard and get a plan together and stick to it then we can be successful as a team.”

Labels: cricket, England, Michael Vaughan, Sri Lanka

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 10:55 pm | Permalink | Comments

BROAD SHOULD REMAIN IN ENGLAND SAYS NOTTS CHAIRMAN

Stuart Broad would be better off staying in England and developing his skills in the County Championship rather than travelling to Sri Lanka - according to his County chairman, Mick Newell.

The 21-year-old fast-bowler flies out to Columbo with the England team this evening (THURS), and is due to make his Test debut after impressing in One-Day Internationals this summer.

But Nottinghamshire chairman Newell, who in August was delighted to have signed "the best young prospect in England" from Leicestershire CCC, will now not see his new acquisition until January.

And even then Broad could well be selected for the tour to New Zealand, meaning he will be unavailable for county duties until the last week in March. But Newell thinks that Broad could be surplus to requirements for Peter Moores' side.

"England are strong in the bowling area with Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard and James Anderson, with Chris Tremlett as a make-shift bowler," he said.

"It will be a competitive area for Stuart internationally. I happen to think that some more county cricket over the next two or three years would help him much more. That's how I thought it would develop, but I didn't envisage he would be on this tour."

Broad has followed his father - eighties Test match opening batsman Chris - to Trent Bridge, and Newell believes that his batting skills will help the youngster gain a starting spot in Sri Lanka, perhaps ahead of time.

He continued: "Stuart started off as a batsmen who bowled a bit and I think that if he does play in the Test side he is very likely to find himself batting in the number eight spot. Indeed the fact that he can bat at eight might help him get in the team."

So far Broad has attended a handful of nets at Nottinghamshire, and his chairman is frustrated by the prospect of his precocious talent being used solely by England.

He said: "Obviously we have an interest in having Stuart play as much as possible for Nottinghamshire. But his elevation to the Test team has been quicker than people thought, and that obviously restricts his performances for us.

"Stuart has been to some of our training sessions that we have started over the last couple of weeks," he added. "Hopefully he will get more involved after Christmas for us, if he is not selected for the New Zealand trip."

The New Zealand tour finishes on March 23, and lengthy series against the Kiwis and then South Africa will mean that Broad, if selected, will not feature regularly for his county until September.

Labels: cricket, England, Nottinghamshire, Sri Lanka, Stuart Broad

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 5:42 pm | Permalink | Comments