Bopara taking one day at a time

Ravi Bopara is treating the one-day leg of the New Zealand tour as a chance to rebuild his Test credentials after a chastening experience in Sri Lanka. Bopara collected 42 runs in five innings before Christmas during his first taste of the Test scene and lost his place for the March series against New Zealand.

However, he remains a key member of the young one-day team who are preparing to face New Zealand in two Twenty20 internationals and five ODIs. Throughout the early days of his ODI career Bopara has impressed with his composure, especially when he almost hauled England across the line against Sri Lanka in the World Cup and when he combined with Stuart Broad, in a successful chase, against India at Old Trafford.

But it is the Test scene where Bopara really wants to make his name and is already taking on board the lessons from Sri Lanka where he finished the tour with three ducks in a row.

"I know I'm not a one-day specialist, I know I can play both forms of the game and I've shown that this year in county cricket and it's about me going out and earning my Test spot again and delivering next time around," he said. "You have to earn your place in a side like England because there are fine players around you and you can't just come in and cruise - you have to be on the ball.

"Things didn't go the way I wanted them to do in Sri Lanka but that's just made me more hungry to earn my spot again and change the record. I've learned massively from the experience, I've had a taste of Test cricket and I'm hungry for more."

During the break between winter tours Bopara has been back to familiar territory - the indoor nets at Chelmsford - and tapped the brain of his mentor Graham Gooch to try and pinpoint key areas to work on.

"He's a very good person to talk to," said Bopara "He's been there helping me since I was 15 so he knows what I'm like and he's an experienced man.

"He's been successful all over the world and he's a great man to take advice off. I know there are always things you need to improve on and a 10 to 15-year career is a short period of time and you've got to go out and make the most if it if you want to be the best as you can be."

England have stepped up the intensity of their training since arriving in New Zealand although they were forced indoors by rain in Christchurch. Paul Collingwood was able to take a full part in the latest training session after recovering from his minor back spasm, but their was brief scare when James Anderson took a painful blow on his left little finger during fielding drills. However, it isn't believed to be serious and he should be able to continue to take a full part as England prepare for their first practice match, against Canterbury, on Saturday.