Bopara to play for Gloucestershire in South Africa tour match

Essex and England's Ravi Bopara will play for Gloucestershire in Wednesday's tour match against South Africa.

The 27-year-old all-rounder pulled out of the second Test for personal reasons but has been named in the one-day squad to face the Proteas.

He has made just one appearance for Essex since withdrawing.

With Essex not playing again before the first ODI at Cardiff on Friday, Bopara will line up for Gloucestershire in the 50-over game at Bristol.

In a similar move, England captain and Middlesex batsman Andrew Strauss played for Somerset against India last summer.

"We are grateful to both Essex and Gloucestershire for agreeing to allow Ravi to play," said national selector Geoff Miller.

"Ravi has had some time away from the game and we feel that he will benefit from some extra cricket ahead of the start of the series, and with no games for Essex before we begin our preparations for the first match this is an ideal opportunity for him."

Bopara's year-long absence from the Test side ended when he was recalled to face South Africa in the first Test at The Oval last month.

He pulled out of the squad for the second Test at Headingley and made himself unavailable for England Lions' four-day match against Australia A at Old Trafford earlier this month.

He scored one and took 3-11 in Essex's CB40's game against the Netherlands on Sunday.