Bopara is not, to my mind, any sort of "all-rounder": in his first class career he's managed an average of just 5 overs per innings with the ball.... and those have been carted at 4.14 an over... whilst returning less than half a wicket per innings... and all at an average of nearly 50.

He is, however, a middle order batsman: he's scored 6 centuries and 12 fifties and his 90+ innings have produced over 3000 runs at an average of just shy of 40.

Adil Rashid has played a third of the number of games but has already bowled almost as many balls and bagged more wickets. Despite being relied upon heavily AND bowling legspin (rarely bowled economically by anyone, especially in England) he's got a better economy rate (although this is still his weakness)... and his average is heading down towards the 30 mark rather than nudging 50!

No contest as a 5th bowler.

Now please note: he's also within one run of Bopara's batting average... and was 19th in the 1st division batting lists for this season - just behind Carberry and Horton, but ahead of Denly and Ambrose. His 800 runs at 46.47 in division 1 deserves more respect than you offer: it's quite comparable with Bopara's 800 runs at 60 against the minnows of division 2!

If it comes down to one of the two then Rashid wins hands down.... not least because England would actually use his bowling, whereas Bopara would have to queue up behind Collingwood and Bell (who has a far, far better first class bowling average and economy rate).

Not that it shoud come down to Rashid vs. Bopara: Bopara should be up against Shah, Sales and Carberry (and putting pressure on Bell and Pietersen) NOT staking a claim for Flintoff's role - which Rashid might well take on if the big Lancastrian fails to fully recover!