Cricket: Bopara hails ‘best’ England ODI team
Hosts go 2-0 up in five-match series against Australia.
LONDON:
Ravi Bopara reckons both he and England are playing the best One-Day International (ODI) cricket of his career.
The Essex all-rounder made an impressive 82 as England beat Australia by six wickets at The Oval here to go 2-0 up in a five-match ODI series. Opener Ian Bell continued his good form with 75 but it was a bowling attack without injured spearhead James Anderson that put England in a winning position by restricting Australia to 251 for seven.
“I think this is probably the best side we’ve ever had,” said Bopara, a veteran of 76 ODIs. “The bowlers are performing really well, putting pressure on [opposition] batsmen and then there’s always someone in the top six who goes on and gets a big score. I told myself just to watch the ball, and hit it, and I play my best when I do that. I think I’m batting the best I ever have. A few changes that I’ve made over these last six months have really worked for me.”
The third ODI will be played in Birmingham tomorrow.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2012.
Ravi Bopara reckons both he and England are playing the best One-Day International (ODI) cricket of his career.
The Essex all-rounder made an impressive 82 as England beat Australia by six wickets at The Oval here to go 2-0 up in a five-match ODI series. Opener Ian Bell continued his good form with 75 but it was a bowling attack without injured spearhead James Anderson that put England in a winning position by restricting Australia to 251 for seven.
“I think this is probably the best side we’ve ever had,” said Bopara, a veteran of 76 ODIs. “The bowlers are performing really well, putting pressure on [opposition] batsmen and then there’s always someone in the top six who goes on and gets a big score. I told myself just to watch the ball, and hit it, and I play my best when I do that. I think I’m batting the best I ever have. A few changes that I’ve made over these last six months have really worked for me.”
The third ODI will be played in Birmingham tomorrow.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2012.