Ravi 10-1 to top score for England on Test return

RAVI BOPARA and Graham Onions were named in the England squad for the first Test against South Africa which starts at The Oval on Thursday.

Bopara, whose impressive one-day form has earned him a recall to the Test squad, is likely to bat at No. 6 and the Essex man is 10-1 with Ladbrokes to top-score for his side in the first innings at The Oval.

Hills go 5-4 that Bopara plays in the first Ashes Test at Trent Bridge next July and he is 4-7 to miss out.

Durham paceman Onions and the in-form Steven Finn are pushing for places in the 11 and England’s strength in depth is reflected by their odds of  11-10 to win the three-match series. Andrew Strauss’s men are 16-1 for a 3-0 series victory.

England squad for first Test v South Africa (starts Thursday, The Oval): A Strauss (captain), J Anderson, I Bell, R Bopara, T Bresnan, S Broad, A Cook, S Finn, G Onions, K Pietersen, M Prior, G Swann, J Trott.

Read Wednesday's Racing Post for England v South Africa three-Test series betting preview package

Read Thursday's Racing Post for England v South Africa first Test at The Oval betting preview package