Bopara embraces his role as one-day‘finisher’

After more than 100 one-day internationals, Bopara is not entirely sure how he came to be currently deployed at No 7 in the ongoing series against the West Indies.

But as he approaches today’s decider – a match in which England are hoping to have Eoin Morgan fit again in their middle order – Bopara knows he must embrace his new role, for his and his team’s sake.

The batsman, who played his first breakthrough innings for England at this same ground, the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, as a 21-year-old against Sri Lanka in the 2007 World Cup, admits he is far from satisfied by his international career.

Bopara has batted in every position for England from one to eight – and although he acknowledges seven is where he is currently needed, there is a sense it is not really his favourite.

“Let’s just say I have been given a role to play,” he said.

“If I was asked to go up the order, I’d snap off the hand of whoever makes the decision.

“But I’ve been given a role for England – to finish off an innings. I’ve got to be happy with it.

“I don’t know how I ended up at seven, the only thing I can think of is that we’re preparing for the (ICC World) Twenty20.”

Not only would Bopara love a promotion back up the order in the limited-overs team, he still harbours the ambition to prove himself properly in all formats – especially to add to 13 Test caps, a tally many believe does scant justice to his natural talent.

He has not played a Test since having to pull out of the Headingley defeat against South Africa during a tricky period in his home life.

“I’ve never been more hungry to play Test cricket,” he continued.

“I went through that period when things weren’t right with my life, and I took my eye off the ball.

“When I had that time away, I had a lot of time to think about what I want to do and why I’m here and why I started playing cricket.

“I realised that the most important thing in my life, apart from my family, is cricket – and being the best I can be.

“That’s not just playing 13 Tests and finishing my career saying I’ve played 13 Tests and 100 ODIs.

“That doesn’t satisfy me. It makes me happy, but it doesn’t satisfy me.”

Bopara accepts there is room for improvement in his international record. Asked the reason he has been in and out of the team and up and down the order, he said: “At times, failures.

“When failures come around, you tend to get moved around.

“I would like to bat higher up in the order, but this is the role I have been given, and right now I have no choice – and I’m happy doing it.”

Longevity, as well as greater prominence, would make him even happier.

“I’d like to be one of those players who carries on,” he said. “I’ve played a few World Cups now, and I’d love to prolong my career.

“I know Colly [England record-holder Paul Collingwood] has played 197 one-day internationals, and I’d love to play more than that. The only way to do that is to put results on the board and keep winning.”

Former England spinner Graeme Swann has backed Ashley Giles as the man to lead England back to the top of world cricket.

Limited-overs coach Giles is the favourite to succeed Andy Flower as team director, following the Zimbabwean’s decision to stand down from the post after the 5-0 Ashes whitewash.

Giles’s credentials have, however, since suffered a blow after he oversaw just one win in eight limited overs matches to end England’s calamitous tour Down Under.

The 40-year-old first made his name in coaching by guiding Warwickshire to the 2012 LV= County Championship title, before leading England to the final of the Champions Trophy last year.

England are due to name their new coach in April – after the World Twenty20 – and Swann is certain Giles should be handed the role.

“Gilo is the man to lead the England team forward,” said Swann, who retired during the Ashes.

“He did a cracking job during the Champions Trophy. People seem to have forgotten that and seem to just tally him with the one-day series in Australia.

“He’s a very good coach who had a sublime record at Warwickshire. He knows the system. He was brought in by Andy Flower to take over that one-day role and I don’t see any reason why he shouldn’t carry on.”