Swann backs Bopara to become a fine England all-rounder
September 24th, 2011 - 5:54 pm ICT by IANSLondon, Sep 24 (IANS) England spinner Graeme Swann has backed Ravi Bopara to become a fine all-rounder.
Bopara took four wickets for 10 runs against the West Indies and it were England’s best bowling figures in a T20 international. England won by 10 wickets after Craig Kieswetter and Alex Hales led England to achieve the modest target of 125.
“Bopara was unplayable. He has good control these days and is developing into a fine all-rounder,” Swann, England’s stand-in Twenty20 captain, was quoted as saying by BBC.
“He never looked like going for any runs out there - he was phenomenal.”
Swann was delighted to get off to a winning start as a captain.
“I enjoyed every moment of today,” said Swann. “It was a dream start as captain. I asked the boys to give everything and they did that, I was delighted with the way everybody performed.”
Bopara revealed that he was delighted but embarrassed at delivering record figures of 4-10.
“It feels quite embarrassing that I have the best figures when you’ve got the incredible bowlers we have in our team,” he said.
“But I’m very proud to be a part of this team. We’ve got a very tough series coming up in India, which will test us.
“The way we’ve played this summer in England has been exceptional. To beat Sri Lanka and India - the two teams that contested the World Cup final - on our own turf is an unbelievable thing.”
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- Bairstow sours Dravid's farewell; India end winless English summer - Sep 17, 2011
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