Ravi Bopara’s England exile came to an end on Friday when the Essex all-rounder was named in the hosts’ 15-man squad for next month’s ICC Champions Trophy and the preceding one-day series with New Zealand.
Bopara has not played a 50-overs-a-side international since September and the stylish batsman and handy medium-pacer had not been selected in either of England one-day coach Ashley Giles’s two previous squads in the format since the former Test spinner took charge of the limited overs side. It seemed Bopara was fighting for his international future but he edged out fellow all-rounders Samit Patel, luke Wright and Rikki Clarke.
Bopara’s last four ODI innings saw him manage just 22 runs in total at home to South Africa and he was omitted from the ODI squads for the recent tours of India and New Zealand.
Bopara’s inclusion aside, there were few surprises, with off-spinner Graeme Swann and seamer Tim Bresnan both recalled following elbow problems. As expected, rising Yorkshire batting star Joe Root was included with star stroke-maker Kevin Pietersen already ruled out of the Champions Trophy because of a knee injury.