Ravi Bopara admitted he did not know what day it was after completing a 41-hour journey from New Zealand to the Caribbean via Los Angeles and Miami. But scoring an unbeaten century in Barbados looks like perfect timing by the all-rounder.

England have several options for replacing hip injury victim Andrew Flintoff for Thursday's Fourth Test against West Indies and Bopara has staked an impressive claim to be at the head of the queue with his innings of 124 during a warm-up match.

The 23-year-old travelled 12,000 miles a week ago determined "to remind England's selectors what I can do" by making a stack of runs for the second string Lions on their A tour of New Zealand. But before even before padding up in Christchurch he was told by team boss David Parsons to pack his bags and head for the West Indies, along with fast bowler Amjad Khan.

"I thought I was in trouble when David Parsons asked me to go to his room," said the Essex all-rounder. "Since I was a young boy in school, every time I got called in I was in trouble. It just reminded me of seeing my headmaster. But I was told 'Freddie' had picked up an injury."

Come Thursday morning, Bopara could be summoned again - this time by captain Andrew Strauss. Flintoff is irreplaceable as a cricketer, but someone has to take his spot and the Essex youngster now looks the likeliest lad ahead of Ian Bell and Adil Rashid.

Playing against a President's XI yesterday, Bopara was dropped on 23 but showed few signs of jet-lag as he plundered 17 fours and three sixes before England declared on 351 for eight. "The opportunity is there with 'Fred' being injured but I'm not looking too far ahead," he said.

Although a regular in England's one-day side, and recently recruited by the Indian Premier League, Bopara played the last of his three Tests 14 months ago. It is perhaps just as well, though, that the selectors have allowed time to heal what was a depressing experience in Sri Lanka.

Chosen ahead of Owais Shah for that three-match series in late 2007, Bopara managed only 42 runs in five innings - finishing with three consecutive ducks. But no one doubts his ability to succeed sooner or later and Flintoff's injury may have given him the chance to shine slightly ahead of schedule.

"After the way Sri Lanka went, I was resigned to working hard to getting my Test spot back," said Bopara. "I haven't been frustrated, I have been looking for my opportunity. But I knew I had to work for it - I wasn't just going to get it given to me. And when I do get it I have to make it count. Getting a hundred in this game gives me a massive boost."

Bopara began his innings less than 24 hours after arriving in Barbados so it was little wonder he admitted: "I lost where I was for a bit, I didn't even know what day it was."

With fellow long-distance traveller Khan striking twice as the hosts slipped to 49 for four, England reached the halfway stage of their two-day practice game in decent shape. To take the Test series, though, they must triumph in both Barbados and Trinidad - and are clinging to the hope Flintoff could be fit for Friday week in Port of Spain.

But even if the big all-rounder recovers from this problem there will be concerns about him playing in the Indian Premier League in April with this summer's Ashes series in mind. And ECB chief executive David Collier has revealed that specific injury worries could prevent him from going to India.

"We'd be concerned if any player was carrying an injury that may affect his participation in the Ashes series and we'll look at that as we move forward," said Collier. "There are medical clauses in their contracts and the IPL are very responsible in that area."