We must attack Australia right from the start, insists run-machine Ravi Bopara

Tom Collomosse
6 Jul 2009

Ravi Bopara has urged England to follow the Ashes heroes of 2005 by attacking Australia from the off when the battle for the urn begins in Cardiff.

Even though England lost the First Test at Lord's four years ago, it was the ruthless, fearless cricket Michael Vaughan's team played in that game which caught the eye and set the tone for a sensational series, which the home team won 2-1.

And with Andrew Strauss's class of 2009 beginning their fight to regain the Ashes in just two days' time, their new No3 batsman Bopara insists England should resist any temptation to play with caution against the Aussies.

"The way to play cricket nowadays is to take the game to the opposition," said Bopara, who warmed up for his first Test series against Australia by scoring an unbeaten 104 in England's practice match against Warwickshire last week.

"Our job as batsmen is to go out and score runs, not simply to survive. We're there to score runs and put a big total on the board for our bowlers to bowl at and take 20 wickets."

Bopara scored three centuries in his last three innings against West Indies but the 24-year-old is a man under the spotlight as the opening round of the Ashes battle approaches.

The feeling in the Australian camp is that they can target Bopara, with former Aussie leg-spinner Shane Warne starting the mind games by claiming the Essex player lacks the mental fibre to be a top international batsman.

One of Bopara's strengths is his apparent ability to maintain a level head at the crease, although his temperament will be tested during the next six weeks. He added: "I got my head round the importance of my new role during the two series against West Indies. I knew the No3 spot was available, so I was able to get used to the idea gradually.

"Scoring two hundreds in the home series against West Indies gave me time in the middle and made me comfortable with the No3 position, so I'm more than happy about batting there.

"It will be a big challenge. It is a different set of bowlers from the West Indies and under totally different circumstances. It will be difficult but that's the best thing about it. It will be an enjoyable test for me.

"Everyone is relaxed. The way we bowled and batted on a difficult pitch against Warwickshire gives us confidence. Everyone's working hard."

The XI who took on Warwickshire are all part of the 13-man squad, with fast bowler Graham Onions and batsman Ian Bell added to the party.

The selectors resisted the temptation to include paceman Steve Harmison - despite his successful short-pitched barrage at young Aussie opening batsman Phillip Hughes - so Onions finds himself in a straight fight with spinner Monty Panesar for the final spot.

With the Cardiff pitch expected to turn, Panesar is favourite to get the nod, especially as the Northamptonshire man appeared to be finding his rhythm again at Edgbaston last week.

"Monty is an international-quality bowler and we know what he is capable of doing," said national selector Geoff Miller. "He would admit he had had a problem and had not been bowling as well as he could but gradually it's started getting better and better.

"Monty had his success in Test cricket by bowling his stock delivery consistently and that's what he has gone back to doing. Eventually, he can take his game forward by adding variations but you can't do that too quickly. We'll be happy if he just bowls as well as he has bowled in the past.

"His confidence isn't yet back to where it was when he was bowling teams out but he is not far from that level. I have seen the gradual improvement over the past month after having discussions with Monty and watching him play for Northants."

Miller said the selectors' meeting before announcing their squad had lasted just half an hour, which he believes is proof that England are clear about the identity of their key players. The truth of this statement will be revealed during the series but while Australia wrestle with whether their sole spinner, Nathan Hauritz, can be trusted at Test level, England at least have a team the selectors and the captain Andrew Strauss trust.

Off-spinner Hauritz returned combined figures of two for 260 from tour matches against Sussex and the Lions but Aussie coach Tim Nielsen insisted: "Nathan has got better and better as the tour has gone on.

"As England's team usually have a few left-handed batsmen, an off-spinner could be pretty handy."

Meanwhile, England have been drawn against hosts West Indies in the first round of next year's World Twenty20 in the Caribbean.

After being knocked out in the Super Eight stage during last month's competition in this country, England will be aiming to go at least one better during the third tournament next spring.

A qualifier will complete England's group, while holders Pakistan will begin the defence of their title against Bangladesh in St Lucia. The tournament begins in Guyana on 30 April, with the final in Barbados on 16 May.