Ravi Bopara determined on making Test comeback for England

Ravi Bopara had lost his Test spot since withdrawing from the second test during South Africa’s tour of England © Getty Images

Aug 16, 2013

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England all-rounder Ravi Bopara has expressed his determination to fightback and earn a place in the national side. Bopara had lost his place in the Test side in 2012 as he withdrew from a match against South Africa due to personal reasons.

The 28-year-old will be playing for Essex in the Friends Life T20 on Saturday. “Things have gone well. I feel like I’ve got a load of energy again. I went through a period where I was down and wasn’t practising as hard as I should,” he said.

“But I have got some inspiration from somewhere and have reminded myself why I do this, why I enjoy it so much and where I’ve come from. My school didn’t play cricket and I had to go out and make myself into a professional cricketer. Why would I do all that hard work just to throw it away?” Bopara was quoted as saying by Daily Mail.

During South Africa’s tour to England in 2012, Bopara was replaced by James Taylor in the second Test after he withdrew from the squad citing personal reasons. Things had gone to an extent where Bopara had admitted thoughts of retiring from Test cricket to Geoff Miller, the national selector of England.

Miller though advised him to avoid taking any hasty decisions and assured him of full support.

“I was advised very well and the support was there for me. I thank Geoff and the others who were around to help me at that time but mainly it has to come from within. People may advise you but you have to work things out for yourself. I’ve learned that I have to do that and I feel top of the world now,” said Bopara ahead of the T20 finals.

“Looking back on it now I wasn’t thinking straight and it wasn’t a wise thing to do. I just wanted a break from it, really. But it’s amazing what I’ve learnt from it.

“I believe everything happens for a reason because at the end of it is something good. I went through those bad times and I wasn’t myself but it’s brought me back to that youthful guy. I don’t feel 28, I feel 18 again,” said a confident Bopara.