Atherton, Pringle hail Bopara's day

Former cricketers Mike Atherton and Derek Pringle heaped praise on Ravi Bopara for his "sublime" century on the first day of England's series opener with the West Indies at Lord's.

"It was Bopara's day," wrote former all-rounder Pringle in the Daily Telegraph newspaper.

Bopara, playing his first Test innings in England's problematic number three position on Wednesday, was 118 not out at stumps in his first Test since making 104 against the West Indies in Barbados in February.

"The earliest ever start for a Test in England had the trappings of a low-key affair until Ravi Bopara anointed his promotion to the troublesome No 3 spot with an unbeaten hundred built on the virtues of patience and a straight bat," wrote Pringle.

He remarked that Bopara had clearly honed his game by playing in the Indian Premier League, a Twenty20 tournament featuring most of the world's leading players.

Looking back at the Barbados Test, Pringle wrote: "While that knock sped along in a blur of adrenalin and risky hooking, this one looked the complete innings of a mature man."

In the Times, former England captain Atherton said the 24-year-old Essex all-rounder's performance lived up to the hopes that surrounded him.

"Ravi Bopara's sublime second hundred in as many Test matches, on his first international appearance at Lord's, confirmed his immense promise and is a tick in the box for the selectors who earmarked him for the No 3 position ahead of other more experienced candidates," he wrote. LONDON, Friday, AFP