Bopara hit by injury

18 June 2007

Ravi Bopara © Getty Images

Essex all-rounder Ravi Bopara is a doubt for England’s NatWest Series against West Indies because of a thigh strain.

The 22-year-old picked up the injury in the LV County Championship match against Middlesex at Lord’s and faces a race against time to be fit for the one-day series which begins on July 1.

Essex physio Mark Thomas said: “Ravinder Bopara has had an ultrasound scan on his left thigh following a niggle picked up chasing a ball during Sunday’s play.

“This shows he has a strain to his left rectus femoris muscle.

“Ravinder was able to continue playing aided by thigh strapping and standing at slip to limit aggravating this further.

“Clinically Ravi is doing well and expected to be fully fit in two to three weeks.”

The injury also casts doubt on his involvement in the two Twenty20 Internationals, on June 28 and 29.