Bopara called up by England

Ravi Bopara
12 April 2012

Ravi Bopara has been called up to replace the injured Ian Bell for England's NatWest Series decider against Bangladesh on Monday.

Bell was ruled out for around six weeks after fracturing his fifth metatarsal fielding during the five-run defeat in Bristol on Saturday, though he did come out to bat at number 11 in a doomed attempt to save the game.

Bopara has been given permission to play for Essex in Sunday's Friends Provident t20 match and will link up with the squad on Saturday night ahead of the Edgbaston clash.

Bopara earned the last of his 50 one-day international caps in the Champions Trophy in September 2009, but has not made a half-century in the format since November 2008.

He was, though, part of the victorious ICC World Twenty20 campaign, playing one match when Kevin Pietersen flew home for the birth of his first child.

His task will be to lift an England side stunned by Saturday's dramatic five-run defeat at the hands of Bangladesh.

The Tigers went into the match having never beaten England before and were winless in 2010.

England have benefited from the performances of recalled players with something to prove in this series, with an unbeaten 84 from Bell seeing them home in the opener and Jonathan Trott almost sparing their blushes with 94 on his comeback on Saturday.

Now Bopara has a chance to join them and, with Bell now likely to miss the forthcoming Pakistan series, press his Test claims too.

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