There are excited whispers coming out of Chelmsford about a precocious teenager who has caught the eye in recent weeks and is being hotly tipped for big things.

Ravinder Bopara this week shone under the floodlights as Essex beat Pakistan by 50 runs in the day/night contest at New Writtle Street.

He scored a quickfire 46 and claimed 2-28 with his medium-pacers to show he can star in the one-day game, after already proving he has the temperament to make the grade in the two-innings game.

After two County Championship outings, Bopara leads the Essex batting averages on 56 after making 112 in four innings, during which he has enjoyed a couple of not outs.

In the draw with Middlesex recently, he occupied the crease for more than six hours as he stylishly compiled 48 and 40no.

The manner of his progress is certainly making people sit up and take notice.

Chief executive David East, a fixture at the club since keeping wicket during the 1980s glory days, said: "I think the term is 'precocious talent' when talking about Ravinder.

"He has bags of talent but also has something about him, an air of confidence, and that's certainly no bad thing."

Bopara, who only turned 18 last month, is still on the books of Shepherd Neame Essex League club Hainault and Clayhall.

But he has already toured Australia with England's under-19s and there is a vibe around the County Ground that he could go on to achieve great things.

Second XI coach John Childs said: "He has the quality there to come through and we have 100 per cent belief in his natural ability -- he is a very telented young man."

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Published Friday, June 13, 2003

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