ESSEX should feel the benefit of Ravi Bopara's winter of hurt as they seek to mould their youngsters into a promotion-winning outfit.

Despite being just 22, Bopara is, in terms of experience and exposure at least, one of the county's senior players and his level of maturity was a key factor in his Test call-up last December.

Now, having been shuffled through the exit door almost as swiftly as he passed through the entrance in Sri Lanka, Bopara is determined to rectify the wrongs by securing another chance.

A year ago, Bopara was forging a stellar reputation with his displays in an otherwise pitiful World Cup.

But his thoughts are currently focused on Essex, whose LV County Championship finish of fourth in Division Two last summer was a disappointment.

The reasons for that were not hard to find.

Bopara was leading run scorer with a tally of 849 despite only playing 10 matches, while there was no threat aside from overseas bowlers Danish Kaneria and Andy Bichel, who took 74 and 41 wickets respectively.

"People look at big scores, nobody looks at 70s and 80s," said Bopara, reflecting on his season's aspirations.

"I want hundreds and to win games for Essex, that is my biggest goal.

"I understand you are not going to win a game for your team every time you go out but if I can't do it with the bat, I want to do it with the ball.

"I am playing for Essex now, I have to concentrate on what I do for them, like I did before I was even in the England set-up.

"I always concentrated on what I was doing right here, right now and that is what I will do again."

The knock-on of his struggles in Sri Lanka pre-Christmas, after edging out Owais Shah, was a loss of form and loss of his place in the one-day international side in New Zealand.

"It has made me really hungry," said Bopara, who will play for the MCC against Sussex in the 2008 season opener at Lord's. "It has made me dead keen.

"That little taster makes you want it even more, and failing only makes me more determined. I am not prepared to just take it, I want to prove not only to myself but everybody else that I am born to do this.

"It hurt because I worked really hard prior to that tour. I worked out the things I needed to do and what was going to be important in Sri Lanka but I never gave myself the chance for those things to kick in.

"I accepted being dropped, I didn't perform, I didn't deliver for England so I have no qualms about being left out.

"For me it is about going back to Essex and scoring loads of runs and earning my place back.

"I don't want to just be given a chance, I want to earn it and perform against the next team I play against.

"For me it is about continuing to work hard this summer and making the opportunity for myself again for England."

Essex have pinned their hopes of a greater volume of wickets on young pace duo Maurice Chambers, 20, and Mervyn Westfield, 19, both of whom have represented England Under-19s.

With a now fully-fit Alex Tudor, Graeme Napier, Ryan ten Doeschate and winter arrival David Masters also among the seam options and the impressive Graeme Welch now ensconced at Chelmsford as bowling coach, there should be a greater spread of wickets this summer.

But Essex will have to become less reliant on tail-end runs bailing out the top-order if they are to launch a promotion push.