England were beaten by India by 158 runs in the first of seven one-day internationals at Rajkot on Friday and that was their third heavy defeat in their last four games.

Bopara came in at number eight, scored an unbeaten 54, and didn’t bowl. His treatment would shock Essex supporters who witnessed his double century in a 50-over match at Leicestershire last season.

“Ravi's a quality player and should bat higher,” Gough said in an interview with the BBC. “If it means Paul Collingwood has to drop down then so be it.

“Surely the batsman bats above the all-rounder. You can't have Ravi playing in a one-day international and batting at eight, it doesn't make sense.

“He's a quality player, he bats at three for Essex, he gets runs and should bat up the order. I've spoken to Ravi. He's desperate to get that England berth but batting at eight and not bowling? Something doesn't seem quite right in the England camp in one-day cricket.”

Bopara’s Essex coach Paul Grayson has also been bemused by his absence or shoddy treatment. When Bopara was left out of the Test squad for India, Grayson was greatly disappointed by the move.

“They left Ravi out at the Oval to play the extra bowler and now he's not going to India,” Grayson commented.

“So either he has made the drinks wrong or he has upset somebody. When he came back to us he played brilliantly. If Ravi was Indian-born I think he would have been playing Test cricket for two or three years by now.”