Graham Gooch believes Ravi Bopara could play abroad this winter in an attempt to regain his place in the England squad.

The Essex batsman paid the price for failing to impress during this summer's Ashes when he was dropped for England's tour of South Africa last week.

The 24-year-old began the year with three consecutive centuries against the West Indies but crumbled spectacularly against Australia by failing to reach 50 in the first four Tests.

He was dropped for the final Test in favour of Jonathan Trott, who will now tour the country of his birth in Bopara's place.

Monty Panesar, who was also excluded from the squad, will play with South African franchise Highveld Lions this winter and Gooch believes Bopara could benefit from doing the same.

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"He has to weigh up his options for the off season, maybe he will go and play somewhere else around the world for a domestic cricket team in another country," said Gooch.

"You have to find a way of putting your name in front of the selectors and certainly to go score runs in a different part of the world might be a good option."

Gooch has watched Bopara's development closely at Essex and helped pick up the player after his disastrous start with England in Sri Lanka in 2007, where he notched just 43 runs in three Tests.

The former England captain expected Bopara to be omitted from the tour squad, who will play four Tests, five one-day internationals and two Twenty20 games against the Proteas.

He does believe, however, that Bopara can bounce back from the exclusion.

"His form hasn't been good enough in the last few months. You have to earn the right to play for England," he added.

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"I have every confidence in the boy's ability though, he is a very gifted player. When you represent your country it is your highest honour, and you have to perform and there is no hiding place.

"If you don't perform there are other players waiting in the wings waiting to take your place so he has to regain his confidence and the form he's capable of and if he does that then he'll play himself back into contention.

"I don't think you want to take too many knock backs. Every time you get dropped from the side it's more difficult to get back in.

"He is a very gifted player though and I'm sure he'll come back at some stage."