Bopara may replace 'injured' Butler as England's middle order batsman

London, Feb 13(ANI): England batsman Ravi Bopara may get a berth in England squad if Jos Buttler is excluded due to an injury for the UAE series.

Buttler suffered an injury in his left hand during the final match of the Lions tour of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, the Daily Mail reports.

The injury comes as a setback to England coach Andy Flower's ambitions, who had earmarked this series as a possible fast track to the Test squad for the likes of Buttler to counter Pakistan's attack.

Bopara gets a first chance to show that he should be the man promoted to the Test side next month in Sri Lanka after Pieterson's promotion as an opener in the squad.

This would, however, not be easy as Pakistan is preparing to field not only Saeed Ajmal but probably three more spinners at England at the same Zayed Stadium where they collapsed to 72 all out to lose the second Test and the series. (ANI)