da spicy bet： Ravi Bopara has committed his short-term future to Essex after signing a new two-year deal
ESPNcricinfo staff08-Dec-2010
Ravi Bopara will remain an Essex player for at least two more years•Getty Images
Ravi Bopara has committed his short-term future to Essex after signing a new two-year deal. There had been speculation about his future at the club with Warwickshire interested in securing a deal, but Bopara will remain at Chelmsford.He is currently playing for the Dolphins in South Africa and will be hoping to be included in England’s one-day squad for the series against Australia in January followed by the World Cup.”The signing of Ravi’s contract has been an ongoing problem throughout the close season due to a number of factors such as his compensation package with IPL being resolved and of course Ravi currently playing cricket over in South Africa,” Paul Grayson, the Essex coach, said. “The signing of the contract was never in doubt, but it was something that just took time.”Ravi is a massive player for us in all formats of the game and he is determined to help us win back promotion from County Championship Division Two. He is a very popular member of the team and is the best signing we could have made for the upcoming 2011 season.”Bopara’s retention by Essex means they should have a solid top order next season having signed Owais Shah from Middlesex and Scott Styris, the New Zealand allrounder, as one of their overseas players for the Friends Provident t20.