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Essex and England all-rounder Ravinder Bopara has tipped Australia for glory ahead of Saturday’s ICC Cricket World Cup Final against Sri Lanka in Barbados.

Bopara faced both nations for England during the competition before his side’s exit at the Super Eight stage.

After making a positive impression throughout the one-day tournament, Bopara returns to domestic action this weekend.

On Saturday the 21-year-old swaps the Caribbean for Hainault and Clayhall Cricket Club when he plays for Hainault and Clayhall against Walthamstow in a League Cup tie.

Bopara then makes his first Essex appearance of the season on Sunday when the Eagles take on Shane Warne’s Hampshire Hawks in a Friends Provident Trophy game at The Ford County County Ground.

Check out the Essex CCC website (www.essexcricket.org.uk) for an exclusive interview with Bopara where he discusses tomorrow’s World Cup Final and looks ahead to his own weekend fixtures.

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South Africa fast bowler Andre Nel has been given permission by the United Cricket Board of South Africa to play for Essex this season.

The 29-year-old is due to arrive in England at the start of May and will remain with Essex until mid-June. Nel’s first appearance is set to come against former county Northamptonshire in an LV County Championship match at Northampton, starting on May 2.

The pace man is currently participating in the ICC Cricket World Cup and is due to play for South Africa at the semi-final stage next week.

Nel will be in his second spell for Essex, having represented the County in August/September 2005. In that brief time he made a hugely positive impact on the Club, claiming a wicket with his first ball in the Championship match with Somerset at Colchester.

After taking three wickets against England on Tuesday, Nel now has 84 wickets in 61 ODIs to go with 97 wickets in 27 Test appearances.

Upon his departure in June, Nel will be replaced by Australian all-rounder Andy Bichel who will remain with the County until September. Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria is contracted to Essex for the whole season, subject to international commitments.

Essex Batting Coach Graham Gooch told the Essex CCC website (www.essexcricket.org.uk): “This is fantastic news for Essex. Andre is the sort of cricketer who leads from the front with the ball and also lifts the side with his bouncy character off the field. He is a competitive and combative individual who fits well into our dressing room and will dovetail nicely with Andy Bichel as one of our overseas players this season.”

Essex Chief Executive David East said: “It is great to be welcoming back such a world-class performer. Andre slotted into our dressing room brilliantly in 2005 and I am sure that his enthusiasm, energy and undoubted talent will make a huge difference to our early season campaign.”

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Essex has received permission from the Pakistan Cricket Board to play leg-spinner Danish Kaneria during the 2007 season.

Kaneria will be available for selection for Essex’s opening first-class match in the LV County Championship against Derbyshire at The Ford County Ground, starting on Wednesday (April 18).

Essex Chief Executive David East told the Essex CCC website (www.essexcricket.org.uk)

“We are delighted that Danish Kaneria can now join Essex for the start of the 2007 season. It’s been a challenging few weeks for us in terms of trying to clarify his availability and our thanks go to the Pakistan Cricket Board for their understanding and agreement to release their player.

“Danish is contracted to Essex for the whole of the 2007 season but this is subject to any recall by the PCB as a result of international commitments that he may be required for.”

26-year-old Kaneria first played for Essex in 2004 and returned the following season. Pakistan’s tour of England last summer meant he did not feature for the County in 2006 but returns for the new campaign. The Pakistani took 95 first-class wickets in 18 matches at an average of 28.18 during his first two seasons at Essex. In addition his 16 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 17.37 played a crucial role in Essex’s totesport League triumph of 2005

Although still to make himself a mainstay at ODI level, the slow bowler was just two short of 200 Test wickets from 46 appearances at the end of Pakistan’s series against South Africa in January 2007.

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