The all rounder started to play for Essex at the age of 17 and he appeared in all formats of cricket
Ravi Bopara leaves his team, Essex, after 18 years. He made an announcement about his departure on his Twitter account. The 34-year-old all-rounder refused to sign the contract to stay in the team and decided to part ways with them. He will start anew with Sussex.
‘It is a great chance to play under a respected and acknowledged coach like Jason Gillespie and with a very strong and talented team of players, many of whom will no doubt go on to receive international honours’, Bopara said.
‘On a personal note, I have a burning desire to achieve greater things in this wonderful game. I will now put a greater emphasis on T20 cricket. I am fitter and stronger than I have ever been and playing my best cricket’, he added.
Essex captain Ryan ten Doeschate was saddened with Bopara’s departure. ‘I speak for the team when I say we are very sad to see Rav leave the club after 18 years. Rav has always been extremely popular in the dressing room, combining unbelievable talent, skill, hard work, and a great cricket mind with a friendly, witty and comical demeanour’.
Bopara started to play for Sussex when he was 17 years old. He made over 400 appearances for the team in all formats of cricket. The all-rounder amassed 11,148 first-class runs at an average of 42.06.
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