Bopara under injury cloud (From Daily Echo)

Bopara under injury cloud

1:42pm Saturday 12th May 2012 in National Sport © Press Association 2013

England's selectors may be forced into a late rethink for the first Test, following confirmation that Ravi Bopara has a torn muscle in his right thigh.

Bopara was expected to be named in a 13-man squad on Sunday for next week's match against the West Indies at Lord's.

But after bowling one over for Essex at Chelmsford on Friday, he had to leave the field and was then booked in for a scan on the injury. The county confirmed on Saturday morning by Twitter that Bopara was expected to bat with a runner on the final day of the LV= County Championship match at home to Kent.

"He has a slight tear in his right quad(riceps), but has not ruled himself out of selection for the first Test," the county's official Twitter feed added.

Should Bopara be unavailable to bat at number six, or even be doubtful, England will have to consider who can replace him or at least provide cover.

The obvious candidates are headed by uncapped England Lions batsmen Jonathan Bairstow and James Taylor - although Samit Patel batted at number seven for England in their last two Tests, in Sri Lanka, when Bopara had a side strain.