London, July 27 (ANI): England wicket-keeper Matt Prior is backing all-rounder Ravi Bopara to put his Oval disappointment behind him, and come good against South Africa in the second Test to be played at Headingley if selected, and in Tests overall.
It maybe recalled that Bopara scored of 0 and 22 as England slumped to their first home defeat in more than two years last week.
Prior described the loss as "a wake-up call", but believes the Essex batsman, who was handed his fourth recall to the Test side in south London, has the quality to make the No 6 slot his own.
"Ravi is a very talented batter and I think it's only a matter of time before he puts that big performance in in the Test arena," The Telegraph quoted Prior, as saying yesterday.
He added: "He has scored three hundreds already so we know he can do it, he knows he can do it. He has just got to go out and show everyone he has what it takes."
Bopara has enjoyed more downs than ups in a Test career that began back in December 2007. During his first five innings as an England player, he registered three ducks - a miserable run that was followed by an equally improbable hat-trick of hundreds against the West Indies at Bridgetown, Lord's and Chester-le-Street.
A disastrous Ashes series in 2009, which exposed Bopara's limitations at No 3, followed before he was recalled again as England romped to a 4-0 series win over India last summer.
That win secured their place at the top of the international tree - but that accession appears to have been built on increasingly flimsy foundations.ndrew Strauss's men have now suffered five defeats in their last nine matches and although the bowlers took the punishment at The Oval - and there will be a clamour for Steve Finn to come in, probably at the expense of Tim Bresnan - the No 6 slot will give Strauss and coach Andy Flower another headache. (ANI)
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