Bopara in pole position to oust Morgan from the Test team
Published:Today sees the start of the four-day Test match between England Lions and Sri Lanka and the England selectors will be taking a keen interest.
Ravi Bopara will open the batting for the England Lions over the next four days and the Essex batsman looks set for a recall to the England Test side for the series against Sri Lanka which starts next week in Cardiff.
Eoin Morgan currently fills Bopara’s spot but the Middlesex batsman is out of favour with the selectors following a trip to the Indian Premier League, and the Irish-born batsman will be playing for his place over the next four days.
The two are both looking to replace Paul Collingwood following his retirement from Test cricket and it looks as if Bopara’s ability with the ball in hand will win him the spot.
England are 4/7 to win the Test series with Sri Lanka and 4/5 to win the first Test.
Based on the England top series runscorer odds Ladbrokes are offering, the next four days will have a huge impact on the battle between Bopara and Morgan with both players 9/1 to be their countries top runscorer.
Bopara doesn’t feature in the top series wicket-taker betting but having taken 19 wickets for Essex so far this season, the right-arm medium pace bowler may be an outside bet should he be picked.
As the first Test draws nearer, Ladbrokes will be opening up more betting markets for punters to peruse, and these will include top first test wicket-taker and runscorer.
Bopara is keen to re-establish himself back into the England fold and the 26-year-old will be eager to impress should he get his chance in the first Test.
Such motivation is a good thing for punters and Bopara is definitely one to consider in the betting should he feature.
A £10 stake on Bopara being England’s leading series runscorer against Sri Lanka would return £100. Sign up here to take advantage a free bet worth up to £30.
