Bopara wants to play leading role

RaviBopara

The Essex all-rounder was left out of the recent ODI series with India, which England lost 3-1.

Bopara was included in the 16-man party to travel to Sri Lanka for a seven-match ODI series beginning in November and the 29-year-old, who has been in and out of England's one-day set-up in recent years, is determined to prove his importance to the team.

"I'm very happy to be back but that's not my goal - just to be back," he told the England and Wales Cricket Board's official website.

"I want to get back in that team and make some real contributions to winning for England.

"I want to be one of the best players in that England side. That's my ambition.

"You're always on that platform to stake that claim and make the next squad but for me it's all about winning; that's all that counts."

Following the tour to Sri Lanka, England take on Australia and India in a triangular series in Australia in January, before the World Cup gets underway in February.

"It's a good lead-up to the World Cup and that's what you need - just playing white-ball cricket," Bopara added.

"The World Cup isn't the be-all and end-all of everything though. There's cricket after the World Cup as well so we've got to focus on the long-term plan and make sure we nail it."

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