The last time most people saw Ravi Bopara he cut a dejected figure. He had been well and truly found out by the Australians and after four tests as a walking wicket he was ejected from the England test side. Things didn't get any better in the ODIs that followed the Ashes or in the Champions Trophy either. Bopara was then dropped from all of the England winter touring parties and wasn't even included in the Lions squad as compensation.
Nothing has been heard of him since. However, instead of moping around feeling sorry for himself, Bopara spent his winter playing for Auckland and is now plying his trade in the IPL with Kings XI Punjab.
It seems the break has done him some good as in his first two outings in the IPL he is starting to look like the real deal again. He followed his 56 off 48 balls against Delhi Daredevils with a brilliant 77 off 50 balls today against the Bangalore Royal Challengers. I wonder if working at close quarters with King Kumar Sangakkara has helped Ravi become at ease with himself again. Certainly, all seemed to be in working order on the (delayed) You Tube stream.
He should at least be a certainty for the England T20 side preferably opening with Craig Kieswetter, but please England don't try and make Bopara a test match number three again.
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