ESSEX coach Paul Grayson believes Ravi Bopara is now ready to step-up and be the main batsman for the England Lions.
Bopara has enjoyed a fantastic season for the Eagles, scoring over 1000 runs in all competitions so far.
The 29-year-old has been selected for the England Lions series against New Zealand and Sri Lanka, headed up by former England coach Andy Flower.
And Grayson feels that the all-rounder should be given the opportunity to prove himself in the top four.
He said: "He is in a really good place at the moment and his confidence is very high. I think he will get an opportunity to bat a little bit higher up in those Lions matches.
"He is ready to bat up the order, whereas England have previously used him in that six or seven postion, as a finisher. But I have been shouting out for a few weeks that he is in such a good place he should be batting three or four. That is where he can really win matches.
"He has matured so much over the last few months and we are really going to miss him over the four 50-over matches. But we are living with that, we have got a good squad and maybe give the opportunity to someone like Kishen Velani.
"We hope that he does well for the Lions and for England in the One-Day series but we have got people who can come in and do a very good job for us."
