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Holding - Windies showed no fight
Bulletin by Shwe Wai
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Ravi Bopara is determined to cement his place as England's long-term option at No.3 by proving his worth against West Indies in the first Test at Lord's on Wednesday.
Bopara was preferred to Ian Bell, Owais Shah and Michael Vaughan for England's squad this week as Andy Flower unveiled a string of bold and decisive squads -the first to have his fingerprints as England coach. Bopara, who cracked a sublime maiden ton against West Indies in the winter, is doggedly determined to make sure the No.3 spot is his for some time to come.
"It is nice to know my opportunity is here again. I took my opportunity in the West Indies and if I get runs at No3 there is a chance for me to bat at No3 in the Ashes as well, which is a great opportunity," Bopara said. "That is what I have dreamed about since I was a young boy.
"It was a bit of a surprise to hear that Ian Bell, Owais Shah and Michael Vaughan weren't in the squad. I thought with Fred [Flintoff] being injured one of them might have got a call-up, but I am happy. The guys have backed me and said 'You are the man to do it' and I want to prove them right.
"I did understand being dropped in the West Indies. I knew one of the batters would be left out because we needed to win the Test and had to play an extra bowler. I had a feeling it would be me. Even coming off the back of a hundred I realised Owais deserved a run in the side. It was disappointing, but also understandable."
Shah was preferred in West Indies but couldn't capitalise on the opportunity afforded to him, running himself out twice while visibly suffering from tension and cramp. Geoff Miller, the national selector, also wrote off Ian Bell's chances of featuring this early in the summer, in spite of
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