RAVI BOPARA regards his unbeaten hundred on his home Test debut at Lord’s as merely the start.

England were hugely indebted to their new number three for his 118 not out in an otherwise patchy 289 for seven by stumps on day one of their npower series against the West Indies.

But Bopara last night already had a total in excess of 400 in his sights – as well as many more runs in this Ashes summer from what has for so long been England’s ’problem’ position at first-wicket down.

Bopara’s 207-ball hundred contained much of his trademark wristy timing among his 12 fours – but perhaps his most notable achievement was to come through a fiery spell of pace and swing in the early afternoon, during which Fidel Edwards (four for 53) saw off Kevin Pietersen first ball.

The young Essex batsman also had some luck on the way, dropped twice – the worst offence being Brendan Nash’s spill at square-leg off Edwards when Bopara was on 76.

‘‘I was about to turn around and walk off, it caught me by surprise that he dropped it,’’ the beneficiary admitted.

‘‘But it’s not my fault if I get dropped – I just have to take advantage of it.’’ Even the confidence of 24- year-old Bopara’s youth could scarcely have aimed for any better than a hundred on his first attempt at number three.

But he is already daring to hope, not dream, of much more.

‘‘I am really proud,’’ he said.

‘‘When you come to Lord’s to play county matches, you wonder if your name will ever be up there (on the honours board).

‘‘It was very enjoyable. That is the best Test I’ve had so far in my career – going out and batting at three in Test cricket.

‘‘It’s a good start. I hope I go into the next Test batting at three – and for the Ashes, and the summer. It is a big thing for me and I am looking forward to it.’’ That is not to say Bopara is anywhere near satisfied yet with the runs he has so far in this innings.

‘‘I hope the lower order can bat 100 balls between them – and I can bat at the other end and get 400 plus,’’ he added.

Edwards himself absolved Pietersen of any blame for edging a perfectly-pitched outswinger behind for his first-ball duck.

But Bopara had a perfect view from the non-striker’s end, too – and he will not be shy with any technical advice should England’s highestprofile batsman decide to ask.

“It is not a great ball to get first up – 90mph swinging out,” Bopara conceded.

“But I’m sure he’ll have learned from it.

“There are ways of combating that. You can lower your backlift, leave your bat quite low and not go so hard at the ball.”

Edwards, meanwhile, knows his day could have been much better had the West Indies not been so slipshod in the field – dropping Bopara twice and Stuart Broad four times, all in the space of the final session.

“I’ll take getting four wickets in Test cricket – and I hope, tomorrow, if we can take our chances, we can get the rest as cheaply as possible,”

said the Barbadian fast bowler.

“Ravi got dropped off me in Barbados and scored a hundred there and it’s happened again here. But, in Test cricket, you’ve got to move on.

“It probably could have been a lot better. But Test cricket is pretty hard and having them 289 for seven – we’ll take that any day.’’ As for tomorrow, Edwards is consoled by the knowledge this game can turn quickly at any time.

“It’s slow and flat but, if it keeps swinging, that’s okay for me,” he said.

“The more shots Ravi plays, the more chances we will get – so I don’t mind him playing shots.”

Scoreboard

England v West Indies At Lord’s

West Indies Won Toss

England First Innings Close

A J Strauss c Ramdin b Taylor ..............16

A N Cook b Edwards ...........................35

R S Bopara not out ............................118

K P Pietersen c Ramdin b Edwards ...... 0

P D Collingwood c D S Smith b Edwards .... 8

M J Prior c Simmons b Edwards ...........42

S C Broad c Taylor b Benn ....................38

T T Bresnan lbw b Benn ....................... 9

G P Swann not out .............................. 7

Extras (b1 lb2 w7 nb6 pens 0) .... 16

Total 7 wkts (90 overs)........ 289

Fall: 1-28 2-92 3-92 4-109 5-193 6-262 7- 275

To Bat: J M Anderson, G Onions.

Bowling: Taylor 17-2-57-1. Edwards 19-4-53- 4. Baker 18-4-59-0. Benn 26-4-80-2. Nash 2- 1-2-0. Simmons 5-1-24-0. Gayle 3-0-11-0.