Ashes - Bopara ton as England draw

Eurosport - Sat, 04 Jul 07:22:00 2009

England completed a satisfactory build-up to the Ashes as nearly all their leading batsman made runs in the drawn practice match against Warwickshire.

CRICKET 2009 - England's Ravi Bopara on his way to a century against Warwickshire at Edgbaston - 0

Having suffered a delayed start to the third and final day at Edgbaston because of steady rain, England finally declared 507 runs ahead on 319 for three - after Ravi Bopara had claimed another century and both Paul Collingwood and Matt Prior reached 50.

It left only Kevin Pietersen and allrounder Andrew Flintoff, who batted just once, as the only players from their likely top seven for next week's opening Test in Cardiff to have failed to pass 50 over the last three days as the game fizzled out into a draw with Warwickshire on 27 for three.

The selectors, who meet on Saturday in Worcester to decide the squad for the first Test which will be announced on Sunday, enter their meeting in a fortunate position of having a confident and in-form set of players to choose from.

PA Sport

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  1. How come England play a three day game whilst Australia­ get a four dayer? Do England expect the tests to last­ three days or are they trying to wear the aussies out­ before the series begins?

    As for Ian Bell claiming­ that the current match against the australians is­ "the sixth test" - have to pick him up on­ that - haven't actually played the first one yet­ Ian and I seem to remember that you are not a current­ test player.Will you count it in your test averages?

    From richard, on Sat 4 Jul 11:03AM

  2. err ... Prior failed? How, exactly?

    From Simon P, on Sat 4 Jul 5:36AM

  3. Warks hardly provided a stern test.

    From Simon P, on Sat 4 Jul 5:33AM

  4. Warwickshire - Chalk. Australia - Cheese.

    From Arvie, on Fri 3 Jul 10:40AM

  5. all this counts for nothing, under pressure we will see­ which team will win

    From BAKANG, on Fri 3 Jul 8:23AM

  6. Well said ANDREW S. The reality is that if Foster were­ to come into the team, it would be a bowler who would­ be dropped not Prior. Prior (test average 48.4) would­ play as a batsman and Foster would presumably bat at­ 10.

    From Bobito, on Fri 3 Jul 7:31AM

  7. All good news - but remember that Australia never­ fields a bad team and they have a level of desire that­ often leaves us wanting. We must deliver on all­ cylinders to have a chance.

    From Prue, on Fri 3 Jul 7:09AM

  8. Prior's a class above both Davies and Foster with­ the bat; and I think his glove probs are exaggerated.

    From ANDREW S, on Fri 3 Jul 3:06AM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    KRAKAT AS A GEMME FAR PUFFTARS

    From JEEMS, on Thu 2 Jul 11:06PM

  10. NIce one, Jimmy. Knock 'em dead.

    From ALAN, on Thu 2 Jul 9:59PM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Prior fials yet again , Pieterson fails twice , it is­ all looking ominous for next week . Surely Foster must­ get back in the team , he never actaully done anything­ wrong in the first place except break his arm

    From W, on Thu 2 Jul 9:12PM

  12. Hiding to nothing these kind of matches. Tells us­ nothing at all about what will happen when the gloves­ are off and the Ashes kicks in for real.

    From ALAN, on Wed 1 Jul 11:04PM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Well what one can say I have heard of Blind Faith but­ this is getting embarrasing the Clown Prince of Wicket­ Keeping Prior now fails with the bat as well.What has­ Foster done to be kept being overlooked is it because­ he is too nice a guy than Prior who has a terrible­ character and what about poor Steven Davies he and­ Foster are a class above Prior how long are the­ selectors going to keep hoping Prior might make the­ grade at this level.

    From DAVID, on Wed 1 Jul 8:34PM
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