Bopara: Wants momentum maintained
We have to take the same approach in Colombo and be aggressive. We can bat a bit betterif anything.
Ravi Bopara
Quotes of the week
Ravi Bopara has told skysports.com that England’s winning mentality is becoming ingrained into the one-day team.
For years the England team has struggled to produce consistent quality in the 50-over game.
But having beaten India 4-3 in a thrilling series on home soil at the tail end of the summer, Paul Collingwood’s side has now edged into a 2-1 lead away against World Cup runners-up Sri Lanka.
Now Bopara, who narrowly missed out on the International Cricket Council’s Emerging Player of the Year award for 2006-07, insists the newfound success can be maintained.
“Since the India series we adopted a winning habit and you get into this habit and I’ve had it with Essex and you tend to think you’re going to win every game so I did imagine we could arrive in Colombo with a 2-1 lead,” Bopara told skysports.com.
“We’ve got a well-balanced team with a long batting order; we’ve got (Graeme) Swann bowling awesomely and we hope that continues as he’s been a main player in the team so far.”
Carrot
England can wrap up the series with victory in the fourth One-Day International live from 10am on Sky Sports 1 on Wednesday and the all-rounder, like his captain, acknowledges the fact their is still room for improvement.
“We have to take the same approach in Colombo and be aggressive. We can bat a bit better if anything,” he added.
“Owais Shah has been really good with the bat and also Colly has played like a true captain which helps us massively.”
Having ended their 25-year wait for a one-day win in Sri Lanka, Peter Moores’ side will now be motivated by the chance of a first series victory ever in Lions territory.
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Source: www.skysports.com
