Ravi Bopara turns down 'tempting' IPL offer

Ravi Bopara has turned down a lucrative offer to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in a bid to regain and cement a place in the England team. Bopara, who isn't centrally contracted to the ECB and thus free to sign on with the IPL if Essex agree, said he was tempted by the money on offer but put his county first.

"Of course when figures like these are put in front of you it is tempting, but my goal is to play regularly for England so I am confident that if I continue to score runs and take wickets for Essex then I will hopefully play for England this summer and for many years to come," he told PA Sport.

"If I do this, and with the current talk of new competitions and one off matches to sit alongside the IPL, then I am sure there will be plenty of opportunities to enjoy the financial benefits in years to come."

Bopara, 23, has reportedly declined a six-figure contract from an unnamed IPL franchise. Dimitri Mascarenhas, the Hampshire captain, is the only England player participating in the IPL but others, namely Kevin Pietersen and Ryan Sidebottom, have expressed interest in signing on in the future.

"Ravi is a highly-talented cricketer with bat and ball so it was inevitable he would be wanted for a competition like the IPL," said Paul Grayson, the Essex coach. "We appreciate the loyalty Ravi has shown as he wants us to continue the progress we have made here at Essex after a good start to the season. I believe he has made a wise decision because if he keeps producing the goods for us he will have a long and successful career with England ahead of him."

Bopara has enjoyed a superb start to the county season, with 150 and 137 in the Championship and 99 in the Friends Provident Trophy. Six wickets at 18.00 are a boost to his hopes of an England comeback after he was dumped on return from a woeful tour of Sri Lanka last year.