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England's Ravi Bopara - Source: Reuters -
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Ravi Bopara batted with patience and application in England's
problematic number three position on Thursday to compile an
unbeaten 118 on the opening day of the first test against West
Indies at Lord's.
Bopara restrained his attacking instincts in an innings which has
taken 246 balls so far to help England reach a respectable 289 for
seven at the close.
He stood firm in the face of some splendidly hostile fast bowling
from Fidel Edwards, who moved the ball late away from the
right-handers and captured three for nine from 22 balls in the
afternoon session.
It was the Essex all-rounder's first test at Lord's and fully
justified the selectors' decision to promote him to number three
after he scored a hundred in his only test in the Caribbean this
year.
West Indies were badly let down by their catching. Stuart Broad
(38) survived chances on nine, 13, 32 and 37 while Bopara was
dropped on 76 and 102.
Edwards, who claimed four for 53, was the main sufferer with
Brendan Nash at square-leg grassing the first chance off Bopara
immediately after tea. Broad was put down off his bowling by
Sulieman Benn at gully and again by captain Chris Gayle at first
slip.
Lost Opportunities
Gayle, who had opted to field on a sunlit first morning of the
earliest test ever staged in England, will reflect on a day of lost
opportunities.
Jerome Taylor dismissed captain Andrew Strauss for 16, caught low
down by wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin while Edwards bowled Alastair
Cook for 35.
With his next delivery Edwards dismissed Kevin Pietersen from a
magnificent delivery which moved late to catch the edge as the
batsman shaped to play to leg. Ramdin took an excellent one-handed
catch moving to his right.
Paul Collingwood succumbed for eight, caught low at second slip by
Devon Smith from a firm-footed prod, and wicketkeeper Matt Prior,
promoted to number six in the absence of the injured Andrew
Flintoff, was caught at cover for a jaunty 42 which took him past
1,000 runs in test cricket.
With England struggling at 193 for five, the West Indies' bowlers
kept finding the edges but their fielders started dropping their
catches. Broad was put down by Ramdin off Benn and the left-arm
spinner then failed to hold on to a caught-and-bowled opportunity.
Smith floored Bopara off Lionel Baker two runs after the England
batsman had reached his century.
"It's not my fault I get dropped," Bopara told a news
conference.
"I've just got to take advantage of it."
Edwards added: "It could have been a lot better. Ravi got dropped
in Barbados, it happened again here and he scored another hundred.
That's test cricket and you've got to move on from here."
