Ravi Bopara and Ian Bell, who are the England's out-of-form middle-order batsmen, are along with five players who have been released by the ECB to play county cricket in an effort to recover form before of the final Ashes Test starting on August 20 at The Oval. Alastair Cook, Graeme Swann and Graham Onions are the others who have been made offered to their counties for the next round of Championship matches.
Bopara and Cook will play for Essex in opposition to Middlesex, who will not have Andrew Strauss' services, at Lord's from Tuesday while Bell and Swann will face each other when Warwickshire meet Nottinghamshire.
"Following discussions with the England squad management, it has been determined to make a number of players offered to their counties for four-day cricket this week," ECB administration director Hugh Morris said. "We are conscious that we underperformed with bat and ball at Headingley and this decision is designed to give players and prospect to spend time in the middle and get overs under their belt ahead of the vital fifth npower Test at The Brit Oval next week."
England's middle-order, consist of Bopara, Bell and Paul Collingwood, who is not available to Durham, added a worthless 16 runs between them in two innings at Headingley. Bopara has been in poor form right during the series, scoring 105 runs at an standard of 15, while Bell has made only 64 runs in three innings since he swapped the injured Kevin Pietersen at No. 4. Cook's performances have also dipped - he now averages 29 after four Tests - while Collingwood has scored only 151 in five innings since his match-saving 74 in Cardiff.
Bopara and Cook will play for Essex in opposition to Middlesex, who will not have Andrew Strauss' services, at Lord's from Tuesday while Bell and Swann will face each other when Warwickshire meet Nottinghamshire.
"Following discussions with the England squad management, it has been determined to make a number of players offered to their counties for four-day cricket this week," ECB administration director Hugh Morris said. "We are conscious that we underperformed with bat and ball at Headingley and this decision is designed to give players and prospect to spend time in the middle and get overs under their belt ahead of the vital fifth npower Test at The Brit Oval next week."
England's middle-order, consist of Bopara, Bell and Paul Collingwood, who is not available to Durham, added a worthless 16 runs between them in two innings at Headingley. Bopara has been in poor form right during the series, scoring 105 runs at an standard of 15, while Bell has made only 64 runs in three innings since he swapped the injured Kevin Pietersen at No. 4. Cook's performances have also dipped - he now averages 29 after four Tests - while Collingwood has scored only 151 in five innings since his match-saving 74 in Cardiff.
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