Bopara replaces Pietersen

Essex youngster Ravi Bopara has been drafted into England's Commonwealth Bank Series squad to replace the injured Kevin Pietersen.

Bopara, 21, has also been named in the 30-man provisional World Cup squad released on Saturday, having been a member of the academy squad based in Perth this winter.

As well as his top-order batting, Bopara offers some tidy medium-pace and will now have an opportunity to press his claims for a place in the final 15 for the Caribbean, to be named on February 15.

"Ravi has been brought in because because he is a middle-order batsman who impressed in his time with the academy this winter," said chairman of selectors David Graveney.

"He has been a regular with Essex and during their one-day successes of recent years and we decided that he was the best option available."

Pietersen, meanwhile, flies home early next week after his missed pull at Glenn McGrath left him with a broken rib.

Without the 26-year-old, who top-scored with 82 in the eight-wicket defeat to Australia on Friday, it is hard to see how England can defeat the world champions.

However, Pietersen said: "The guys are fighters, they tried their hardest here again and if we gain some tips from how this formidable Australian side is playing we can improve our game by 10, 15, 20% going into the World Cup.

"There are not too many teams that are ahead of Australia in any department. Their confidence they got from the Ashes series means they are just riding that wave.

"It would be a real good team effort from either New Zealand or us to beat them. But who knows, if we beat New Zealand and get into the finals, those matches are one-offs."