I don't actually hate Bopara thread

[grecian]

lol grecian has been posting on the cricinfo comments section.

I can assure you I've never done such a thing, in fact like youtube comments, I assiduously ignore.

oh, just looked, TBF, I would genuinely prefer Trego or Bopara other than Dirtbag, TBH.

 

[Woodster]

In typical defence of Ravi, his performances with the ball in the ODI series against SA were excellent, a series economy of 3.42, more than a run better than the next man, while his batting did disappoint and he was unable to back up a very good series with the bat in the previous ODI series against Australia.

His medium pacers do become very handy in English conditions where he nibbles it just enough and bowls wicket to wicket. I personally think he bats better as in the Australia series, coming in around number four allowing him the chance to get settled at the crease and work the ball around, but in the current side he would more than likely have to make do with the number six/seven slot with his bowling a strong reason for his inclusion.

 

[Prince EWS]

In typical defence of Ravi, his performances with the ball in the ODI series against SA were excellent, a series economy of 3.42, more than a run better than the next man, while his batting did disappoint and he was unable to back up a very good series with the bat in the previous ODI series against Australia.

His medium pacers do become very handy in English conditions where he nibbles it just enough and bowls wicket to wicket. I personally think he bats better as in the Australia series, coming in around number four allowing him the chance to get settled at the crease and work the ball around, but in the current side he would more than likely have to make do with the number six/seven slot with his bowling a strong reason for his inclusion.

It's approaching the point where slotting him in at number eight as a genuine bowler might become an option soon. The backup seamers have been gash. The problem is, he'd be a specialist middle overs bowler; you couldn't imagine him bowling him at the death for example which is something most specialist seamers do have to do, at least sometimes. Changes in the field restriction rules won't help him either.

 

[Jarquis]

It's approaching the point where slotting him in at number eight as a genuine bowler might become an option soon.

Seem to recall reading this somewhere :

 

[Cabinet96]

He can actually get a lot of reverse swing though, tbf, to him, so he could go okay at the death.

In this match, and this match, he attacked the stumps, reversed it, bowled with decent pace, used slower balls, and cleaned up at the end of the innings.

 

[Woodster]

It's approaching the point where slotting him in at number eight as a genuine bowler might become an option soon. The backup seamers have been gash. The problem is, he'd be a specialist middle overs bowler; you couldn't imagine him bowling him at the death for example which is something most specialist seamers do have to do, at least sometimes. Changes in the field restriction rules won't help him either.

Think batting him at eight would do his batting a rather large disservice though.

 

[Prince EWS]

Think batting him at eight would do his batting a rather large disservice though.

I'm sure he'd prefer it to being in the team at all though. As it stands he should definitely not make the team in a top seven role; there are better options. One could possibly make the argument for him being a better bowler than some of the blokes playing now though. Not sure I would do that just yet, but it's getting there.

 

[Pothas]

It's approaching the point where slotting him in at number eight as a genuine bowler might become an option soon. The backup seamers have been gash. The problem is, he'd be a specialist middle overs bowler; you couldn't imagine him bowling him at the death for example which is something most specialist seamers do have to do, at least sometimes. Changes in the field restriction rules won't help him either.

May as well bring back Mascarenhas (greatest man ever) if you want to go with that sort of role.

 

[Prince EWS]

May as well bring back Mascarenhas (greatest man ever) if you want to go with that sort of role.

I think Bopara is the better bowler at this point tbh.

 

[Woodster]

I'm sure he'd prefer it to being in the team at all though. As it stands he should definitely not make the team in a top seven role; there are better options. One could possibly make the argument for him being a better than some of the blokes playing now though. Not sure I would do that just yet, but it's getting there.

Yes it probably is preferable to being left out of the side, but even so I think his batting is deserving of a higher spot in the line-up. To get the most out of Bopara the batsman for me he has to bat around number four, and his batting is still just about his strongest discipline in ODI cricket, but number six may be where he gets his next opportunity.

 

[Cabinet96]

Bopara's bowling is more suited to Indian conditions than Mascarenhas's is IMO.

 

[Prince EWS]

Yes it probably is preferable to being left out of the side, but even so I think his batting is deserving of a higher spot in the line-up. To get the most out of Bopara the batsman for me he has to bat around number four, and his batting is still just about his strongest discipline in ODI cricket, but number six may be where he gets his next opportunity.

Pretty sure you're the only one who still thinks he's got it in him to make a success international #4 consistently, barring perhaps his mother and the Cricinfo staff.

 

[Pothas]

Well Dimi is 35 now as well of course.

Think we may be overstating Bopara as a bowler as well, I mean I am faily sure that if he bowled 10 overs regulalry that he would get smashed on a frequent basis. Better than Jade obviously.

 

[Pothas]

Just saw the headline again, love the little sub-title where is says he may be 'England's missing link' as if England are one player away from being a complete side and that he has never tried before.

 

[Cabinet96]

He was pretty damn good in the summer though, in a wide variety of conditions. The big issues though is that pretty much all of those overs were in the middle, and if you want those overs used by Woakes and the spinners it leaves just Bopara and Finn for the death.

Of course it's all pointless talk really, because it will never come close to happening. England have usually favoured 5 bowlers in limited overs recently, so the idea that they'll have a part time bowler at 8 and a guy who averages nearly 40 with the bat in FC cricket at 9 is just madness.

 

[Woodster]

Pretty sure you're the only one who still thinks he's got it in him to make a success international #4 consistently, barring perhaps his mother and the Cricinfo staff.

Well I do think it would be the best chance of him to succeed in an England shirt as a batsman, but I also appreciate there are currently better options than him. He was excellent in that position against the Aussies though last year.

 

[Viscount Tom]

Gonna be honest I'd rather see Trego at this point.

 

[Jarquis]

He was pretty damn good in the summer though, in a wide variety of conditions. The big issues though is that pretty much all of those overs were in the middle, and if you want those overs used by Woakes and the spinners it leaves just Bopara and Finn for the death.

Of course it's all pointless talk really, because it will never come close to happening. England have usually favoured 5 bowlers in limited overs recently, so the idea that they'll have a part time bowler at 8 and a guy who averages nearly 40 with the bat in FC cricket at 9 is just madness.

Woakes will be gone when Broad's back though. Bopara in for Jade.

 

[Cabinet96]

I doubt Broad will play a part in the series. He was only planned to arrive in the country in time for the 3rd or 4th ODI, and as far as I know his flights have been delayed due to the weather. It's unlikely he would have been fit anyway though.

 

[Jarquis]

Meant more from a future perspective. What with Ravi not being in the squad for India either.