Bopara ready to prove a point

Ravi Bopara believes he can "do something special" for England if he gets the nod to face Sri Lanka.

Bopara is favourite to inherit the place vacated by the dropped Eoin Morgan in England's middle order, but faces competition from Samit Patel, whose left-arm spin makes him an attractive option in the sub-continent.

The Essex batsman said: "It's only a two-Test series but it's a little window to do something special for England. That's what I really want to do. I want to go out and win the game and if I can do that and get some runs, I'll be very happy."

Bopara was an unused squad member in the recent Test series against Pakistan but played twice in the longer format last summer as an injury stand-in.

His last stint as a first-choice player ended in 2009, when he endured a confidence-shattering Ashes series, but he is now ready to show he can make a mark on the big stage.

"This is a great opportunity for me," said Bopara, who has 12 caps to his name over a four-year period.

"I've had little glimpses of opportunities here and there, but with the two Tests I played last summer I knew they were just going to be one or two games because of injuries.

"There wasn't a lot to gain in terms of my place but a there was a lot to gain confidence-wise. Scoring 40-odd (44 not out) at The Oval in the summer was massive for me, it gave me that confidence."