 | I see myself as a genuine all-rounder but batting comes first |
Essex all-rounder Ravi Bopara is sure he can deliver the goods after being named in England's World Cup squad to go to the Caribbean in March.
The 21-year-old was preferred to Mal Loye despite playing only one game in the tri-series in Australia.
"When I heard I was in I was over the moon, the family was over the moon. All I can say is I'm looking forward to it.
"I'm feeling confident and a little of it is to do with how the team treated me," Bopara told BBC Sport.
"They made me feel an important player and I am raring to go."
Bopara was thrown in at the deep end, bowling to Australia's middle-order batsmen at a vital stage of a day-night match in Sydney.
And he responded well, taking the key wicket of Michael Hussey as England went on to claim their first victory of the winter over the hosts.
While many pundits thought Bopara would miss out on selection, he insisted: "I prepared myself to be going.
"I didn't want to be surprised in any way so when I heard I was going I was ready for it."
| There shouldn't be any reason why we can't reach the final and win it |
Reflecting on the Australian adventure, when an injury to Kevin Pietersen gave him his place in the squad, Bopara said: "It was a great experience.
"I was playing against some of the best players in the world and with some of the best players and obviously got a hunger for it.
"I've got a taste for it and I want more of it."
Bopara came through the ranks at Essex as a batsman, but his brisk medium pace has steadily improved over time.
"Recently I've been seeing myself as a genuine all-rounder but batting comes first - that's my main priority," he said.
"That's what I do best, but I'm working hard with my bowling with coach Kevin Shine."
Bopara, who featured in an A tour in the Caribbean last year, said England could go all the way in the World Cup.
"The way we played the last couple of weeks in Australia showed how far we can go.
"We beat the best team in the world convincingly three times in a row so there shouldn't be any reason why we can't reach the final and win it," he added.
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Interview: England's Ravi Bopara
