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Second ODI: Ravi Bopara confident skipper Alastair Cook will rediscover his form

COLOMBO, SRI LANKA - NOVEMBER 29:  Ravi Bopara of England bats during the 2nd One Day International match between Sri Lanka and England at R. Premadasa Sta
Image: Ravi Bopara: England batsman has faith in out-of-form captain Alastair Cook

Ravi Bopara is confident Alastair Cook’s resilience will help the England captain transform both his and the national team’s poor form.

Bopara has been a team-mate of Cook’s for more than 15 years since the pair began their careers at Essex and is happy to describe the England skipper as a ‘fighter’ who is capable of proving his critics wrong.

Recent statistics are not in Cook’s favour – England’s eight-wicket defeat to Sri Lanka on Saturday represents their seventh loss in the past eight one-day internationals.

Cook himself is struggling for form, with just a single one-day century in his most recent 18 innings, but Bopara said: "He's a determined guy. He always wants to do well.

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Ravi Bopara is backing Alastair Cook to remain as England's ODI captain

"He's trying his best to do the country proud, the fans proud, himself, his team-mates, his family. He's a good enough player to turn it around. He's a fighter.

"I've seen him do it before, and I'm pretty sure it'll come round very, very, very soon."

Only three months ago, Bopara himself had to try to prove his point again after being dropped by England for the home series against India.

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He said: "I've been dropped many times - and every time you do get dropped, you do get that little bit stronger; you have a little bit more hunger, and you're more determined.

"I worked very hard in the month we had off. I knew I had to, because I'd just got back to be selected again - and I had to perform to keep myself in."

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Bopara's runs have been to no avail yet here for England, who by Cook's own admission 'never got going' at the Premadasa Stadium on Saturday - when they mustered only 185 all out, after choosing to bat first.

Bopara believes England paid for failing to spot a significant change in a pitch which had also been used for Wednesday's first ODI of seven.

"We were outplayed. I don't think we adjusted to the conditions very well," he said. "Although we played on the same pitch, it wasn't (really) the 'same' pitch.

"We played on a very fresh, good pitch the first time round. Three days later, it was a bit drier, little bit more turn, a bit slower.

"We didn't adjust very well, I don't think, and that's what ultimately cost us the game."

Watch England play Sri Lanka in the third one-day international on Wednesday from 8.30am on Sky Sports 2 HD

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