da 888： Ravi Bopara has said he struggled to stay awake during the opening day ofEngland’s tour match against Barbados Cricket AssociationPresident’s XI
Andrew McGlashan at Windward Park23-Feb-2009
Ravi Bopara: “I got a bit sleepy at the start of the game, but the physio told me to stay awake and sleep later tonight” © Getty Images
Ravi Bopara has said he struggled to stay awake during the opening day ofEngland’s tour match against Barbados Cricket AssociationPresident’s XI, but is ready to return to Test cricket if recalled forthe fourth Test on Thursday after hitting an attacking 124.Bopara only arrived in the Caribbean on Saturday afternoon from New Zealand and lessthan 24 hours later was out in the middle at Windward Park trying toimpress the management as they weighed up their options for replacing the injured Andrew Flintoff. “I woke up at about 3am and didn’t get back to sleep,”he said. “I got a bit sleepy at the start of the game, but the physiotold me to stay awake and sleep later tonight.”Andy [Flower] came in last night to have a chat with me and said youare going to be playing tomorrow and that it doesn’t give you muchtime to prepare,” he added. “But I guess you just have to shrug thosethings off. I had no choice, and really I went in today and didn’tthink too much and just tried to enjoy myself.”Bopara hopes to have fully shaken off the effects of his 41-hourjourney, taking in four flights and an eight-hour stop in Los Angeles,well before the Test begins. “I’d have no choice. I’m a little on myway already because I didn’t sleep so that would have helped,” he said.”When I go back I’ll have my food and hopefully nod off at around 10o’clock and wake up around seven.”He is aiming to earn his fourth Test cap after being dropped followinghis debut series in Sri Lanka in 2007-08 where he managed just 42 runsin five innings. Since then he has struggled to maintain a regularplace in the one-day team, but handsome performances for Essex havekept him in the frame. He was in the squad for The Oval Test against SouthAfrica before being overlooked for the Test series in India and the WestIndies.”Getting the hundred today gives me a massive boost and anopportunity,” he said. “I wouldn’t say I’ve been frustrated. The waySri Lanka went I was going to have to work hard to get my place back.I’ve been looking for the opportunity, but I wasn’t just going to get it because of the players that are about these days. I’m glad because the best way to do it is to work hard and when I do get the chance I will take it.”Bopara’s recall depends on the type of side England opt for inBridgetown. If Matt Prior isn’t called away to attend to his pregnant wife thenhe could bat at No. 6 ahead of five frontline bowlers. In that case the seamer Amjad Khan, who also flew in from New Zealand (leaving the England Lions squad), could benefit with his first Test cap.Bopara joked that after spending so much time sitting next to other, they neededsome space. “I was so bored of him after a while,” he said. “Picking up a couple of (late) wickets went down really well as he’s a close mate of mine.” After 41 hours inthe air they must be really close.