ESSEX young gun Ravi Bopara has expressed his delight after being named in the 15-man England squad for the $20million Stanford Super Series in Antigua.

Bopara, who has also been awarded an England Increment Contract for the next 12 months, could earn himself a cool $1million if he is named in the final 11 and England go on to defeat the Stanford All-Stars on November 1.

Speaking exclusively to our sister paper the Basildon Echo Bopara, who is also part of the England selection for a seven-match one-day tour of India in November, was pleased to have his talents recognised again at international level.

“I’m delighted to have been selected in the one-day squad for the Stanford Series and the India tour and frankly, I would have been disappointed if my name hadn’t been there having done nothing wrong," he said.

“It’s good news and I’m happy to be going.

“Obviously, there is the added attraction of the prize money for the Stanford Twenty20 game and the amount involved is something that has never been seen in cricket before.

“Cricket comes first to me but when there is the amount of money that is being given to the winners of that Stanford Twenty20 match, then it does take your breathe away and causes you to stop and think a bit.

"However, it’s only the winners that will receive the big bucks so I guess we’ll have to make sure we win.”

Should he be left out, Bopara will share $1million with his three other disappointed squad-mates should England win, with a further figure being shared between the backroom staff.

*THE opening day of Essex's LV County Championship Division Two clash with Northamptonshire at Wantage Road was completely washed out on Tuesday.