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Monday, July 16, 2012

Batting coach Goochie backs Ravi Bopara

ABOVE: Ravi Bopara in action

I think he is maturing with age

England batting coach Gooch

15th July 2012

By Richard Sydenham

RAVI BOPARA is much better prepared to handle Test cricket if the selectors give him another chance, according to his mentor Graham Gooch.

Bopara, 27, is expected to be named in the England squad this morning for the first Test against South Africa at The Oval on Thursday, in place of Jonny Bairstow.

The Essex boy averages 34.56 from 12 Tests and has been in and out of the England side since his debut five years ago.

Bopara has failed to grab his chance, despite hitting three centuries in a row against West Indies in 2009.

He was, though, one of the leading lights in England?s recent 4-0 one-day series thrashing of Australia and many feel he has finally come of age.

England batting coach Gooch, an Essex and England legend, believes Bopara has matured into someone who can now survive at the top.

Goochie, 58, said: ?He?s been around the England side since 2006-07 and the lad is a talented performer.

?He?s been in and out, done well at times and struggled at times.

?But I think he is maturing with age.

?He got great talent and I think he now understands how he can translate it into performances.?

- MORE rain yesterday meant not a ball was bowled in the LV= County Championship, with the matches between Middlesex v Notts, Surrey v Lancashire, Gloucestershire v Essex and Hampshire v Yorkshire all ending in draws.

The same result looks guaranteed at Edgbaston, where Warwickshire are 175-3 in their first innings after three days against Sussex.

The first day of Northants? clash with Glamorgan was also abandoned.