Ravi Bopara prepared to fly home from the Indian Premier League last night knowing that his selection in the 12-man squad for next week's first Test against West Indies could pave the way for the coveted role of England's No3 in the Ashes.  The position is the least forgiving of England's trouble spots, in recent times chewing up and spitting out Michael Vaughan, Ian Bell and Owais Shah, but if Bopara - who has not batted higher than No6 in any of his four Tests - is anxious about the prospect of going in first drop against Australia, he was not letting on. 

"I'm delighted because I've been waiting for my opportunity," he said. " It's just nice to get back in.  If the selectors want me to bat at No3, then that's my position for England.  I'll just have to go out and do the job.  And if they want me to bat there against Australia, I won't be fazed.  I'll bat wherever England want me to." 

The absence of Vaughan, Bell, Shah and the injured Andrew Flintoff, along with the selection of only five specialist batsmen for Lord's plus the wicketkeeper Matt Prior, means Bopara will have the chance to build on the 104 he made in Barbados in February. 

He was left out of the next Test, in Trinidad, as the selectors, packing the side with bowlers, waited in vain for Shah to impose himself.  But there is faith in Bopara's obvious gifts, and his 84 in 59 balls for King's XI Punjab here last week has by some distance been England's IPL highlight.  Yesterday's innings of six against Mumbai Indians at Kingsmead did not spoil the effect. 

"I've got mixed emotions about his departure," said the Punjab coach, Tom Moody. " He's been a terrific acquisition for us and he's fitted into the group really well.  We're thrilled he's been selected and it looks like he'll now get a crack at securing a long-term position in the Test side." 

Bopara returns to Test cricket with a sensitive nod to the man he is set to replace at No3. " I've always felt Owais deserved his chance because he's done it consistently in county cricket," he said. " Yes, I was disappointed to be left out in Trinidad, but I could accept it was for the good of the team.  It's just unfortunate for Owais he isn't in the squad now.  He's a friend of mine and I want him to do well.  But playing for England's a hard school and you've got to be on top form." 

Bopara knows what he's talking about.  Three successive ducks in his second and third Tests, in Sri Lanka in December 2007, triggered a 14-month exile punctuated by the occasional one-day appearance and a superlative double-hundred in the Friends Provident Trophy for Essex at Grace Road.  His Barbados hundred, meanwhile, merely restoked the desire. 

His selection was greeted with delight by Kevin Pietersen, who yesterday scored 13 in his final IPL innings as Bangalore Royal Challengers won their bottom-of-the-table clash with Kolkata Knight Riders. " He's a little superstar," Pietersen said. " I love him.  I've taken him under my wing and I will continue to because I think he's fantastic." 

Pietersen watched with mixed feelings last week as Bopara, deliberately timing his assault to take advantage of Bangalore's lack of specialist death bowlers, tore his side apart to belie a modest $450,000 (£305,000) evaluation at February's auction.  Pietersen, meanwhile, valued at $1.55m (£1.05m), leaves knowing that his 93 runs in six innings have cost Bangalore nearly £5,000 each, but played down the disappointment. 

"I know I haven't got as many runs as I can, but to keep the boys happy and smiling and to have the enjoyment I've had over the past few weeks has been brilliant," he said. " The freshness it gives you to be with all these new guys is just magnificent.  Yeah, maybe I haven't scored that many runs, but that doesn't bother me."