Bopara: Hard to predict

South Africa series is too close to call, says Essex batsman

Last updated: 9th July 2008

Bopara: Hard to predict

Bopara: Test series is too tight to call

We are also a good Test side and have the advantage of playing at home - it should be a very competitive series but I can't predict who will come out on top.

Ravi Bopara
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Ravi Bopara is expecting a closely-fought Test series between England and South Africa during the second half of the summer.

The opening Test starts at Lord's on Thursday with the tourists harbouring hopes of a first series victory in England since their re-admission to the international game in 1992.

Essex batsman Bopara, a regular in England's one-day team, feels South Africa will provide a stern challenege for his Test colleagues and can see the series going either way.

"It's a hard series to predict," Bopara told skysports.com.

"You can't knock a team like South Africa, they play hard and are full of confidence.

"We are also a good Test side and have the advantage of playing at home - it should be a very competitive series but I can't predict who will come out on top."

Steyn threat

Bopara highlighted the threat posed by South Africa's highly-rated fast bowling attack as a key factor.

He has played county cricket for Essex with both Andre Nel and Dale Steyn and is a big fan of both bowlers.

"They are wonderful blokes, both are extremely talented," said Bopara.

"Dale is a very dangerous bowler who skids through at more than 90mph, whereas Nel likes to hit the pitch a bit and gets a bit more bounce.

"They pose different threats but are equally dangerous."

England are set to make history at Lord's by naming an unchanged line-up for the sixth Test in row, a run includes four wins and a draw covering home-and-away successes over New Zealand.

Test prospects

Bopara played three Tests during last winter's tour of Sri Lanka but failed to make an impact and was dropped for the trip to New Zealand.

The 23-year-old has been in fine form for Essex in the County Championship this season and is currently the leading batsman in the Division Two with 689 runs in 11 innings.

On his prospects of Test recall, he commented: "I think I'm up there in the reckoning.

"I've just got to keep scoring runs and the rest should look after itself.

"Every little blip you learn from and come back a better cricketer," he added of his struggles in Sri Lanka when he scored 42 runs in five innings, including three ducks.

"I definitely think my game has moved on and am better prepared if I get another chance.

"I'll bat anywhere in the line-up, I'm not a fussy guy. If someone asks me to go in at number eight I will do that, and if they ask me to open I will also do that.

"I'm a top-order batsman for Essex and that is where I want to bat (for England)."

'Ravi is working with NUTS magazine on the launch of 'The Nuts Shed Report'.