Published on: Sep 13, 2018 4:35 pm IST|Updated on: Dec 2, 2019 1:00 pm IST
Ravi Bopara (England cricketer)
The second Sikh cricketer to represent England after Monty Panesar, Ravi Bopara was another case of prodigious talent and startling inconsistency. A batting all-rounder whose consistent performances for Essex with both bat and ball, Bopara was earmarked as a potential talent to look out in the English domestic circuit.
Following an injury to Kevin Pieterson in the 2006-07 CB series in Australia, Bopara was handed his ODI cap against Australia and was subsequently drafted into the 2007 World Cup team and displayed a remarkable consistency to notch up a fifty against Sri Lanka in a Super Six game.
Following consistent returns in 50-over cricket, Bopara earned his Test cap for England in 2009 when Andrew Flintoff injured himself ahead of the Bridgetown Test. But following three ducks, Bopara had an abysmal start to his Test career. Amidst immense scrutiny, Bopara silenced his critics with three back-to-back tons- the fifth Englishman to achieve the feat.
However, inconsistent performances at the Test level meant Bopara was in and out of the side. He continued o thrive in limited-overs cricket, playing a crucial fifty in a low-scoring thriller against South Africa in the 2011 World Cup and nearly pulling off a sensational win for England in the final of the 2013 Champions Trophy.
Following an abysmal 2015 World Cup campaign, Bopara was dropped from England’s side and the ODI against Afghanistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground proved to be his last outing in English colours.