England allrounder Ravi Bopara on being awarded a benefit year by Essex, his autographing ethics, and putting up with Jonathan Trott’s velcro-heavy superstitions

Interview by Jack Wilson03-Jul-2015You have played 120 ODIs, 38 T20 internationals and 13 Tests. How do you see your England career?
I’ve loved every moment of it. I’ve been a little bit frustrated at times but I feel lucky to have played for England. I’m just a guy from east London who didn’t come from a cricketing school. I’m happy to have played 171 times but I want to play more. I’ve got more to achieve. I’m just frustrated with the positions I’ve been in.The position in the batting order, you mean?
Number six isn’t my position of strength. I bat up the order for Essex in all forms of the game.Essex handed you a benefit this year and you’re only 30…
I’d love to play into my forties. I want to play as long as possible. Being awarded a benefit is a massive honour. When I signed a contract 15 years ago I never thought I’d have a benefit. You don’t think about those things, but when it comes to it you think: bloody hell, I must be old!What is the best thing about playing in the IPL?
Getting the opportunity to play with some of the best players around the world and the atmosphere of India.And the worst?
You can’t really get out much. You’re always stuck in your room because of how big cricket is there, it’s hard to get out.Which of your team-mates – past or present – has the most ridiculous superstitions?
Trotty was an absolute nightmare. He will put his thigh pad on, strap it on with velcro, then take it off. He’d do that 15 times. Then he’d have to line up his bats on top of each other. They all had to be in a certain order.Who complains the most after getting out?
Ronnie Irani. He’d come in and complain about something that happened and have full-on conversations with himself.Who has the worst dance moves on a night out?
Ryan ten Doeschate. He can’t dance.

“I get most stick from Aussie fans. They don’t care. They get stuck into you no matter what. They know their cricket but after getting a few beers down them, they get a bit rowdy”

Who is the worst runner you have ever played with?
Owais Shah. He’s a “yes, no, sorry” man.Who is the biggest cricket geek you have played with?
Probably me. I watch a lot of cricket.Let me test you. Who is the top ODI run scorer in England history?
Graham Gooch?He’s sixth.
Only sixth? Okay, Kevin Pietersen?He’s fourth. It’s Ian Bell.
I’m not good with things like that. I know a lot about other teams, other players, the way people like to play.What is the best innings you have ever played?
My double-hundred in a one-day game for Essex. I was a young boy then, naive, I didn’t know what I was doing. I didn’t know I had reached 200 until everybody went crazy.Your favourite shot?
I love the straight drive. There’s no better feeling than smashing one back past the bowler on the ground.You have played T20 cricket all around the world. Where is best?
Australia or India. The IPL is the best competition I’ve played in but the Big Bash is brilliant as well. It’s very different to how we do it. They sell it really well, they make it a real day and it’s a proper occasion.Which crowd have given you most stick?
I get most stick from Aussie fans. They don’t care. They get stuck into you no matter what. They know their cricket but after getting a few beers down them, they get a bit rowdy.How do you sell T20 cricket? Just ask the Australians•Getty ImagesWho is the worst sledger?
Andy Caddick was real bad. He used to come out with some pointless comments you just had to laugh at.And who is best?
Nasser Hussain was very, very good. He was quick-witted, smart and clever in the way he did it. He will sledge you on and off the field, he doesn’t care.What’s the funniest thing you’ve seen happen on a cricket field?
Paul Grayson – my coach at Essex now – dropped two of the most simple catches you’ll see in his younger days. I absolutely wet my pants at how easy they were. He retired after that game, that’s what made it even more funny. The guy he dropped went on and scored 150.Who is the best captain you have ever played under?
Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara or Michael Vaughan.Describe yourself in three words.
Bubbly, naive, mischievous.There’s a nick behind off your bowling. Who do you want to see behind the stumps?
James Foster, without a doubt.What is the strangest thing someone has asked you to autograph?
Their arm. It means they’ll go home and won’t have a bath. It’s wrong, so now I refuse to do them.