Matt Prior

I think it will take more than a couple of innings to restore his reputation - after all his dismissal in the first innings of the First Test suggests that some of his bad old habits with the bat aren't all that far away, but it frequently the case that if batting well his keeping will also come up a few notches too - the same was true of Geraint Jones (remember that blinding catch at Leeds the same day he made his maiden Test hundred?)

to see him properly grafting is very encouraging anyway

It does appear that he has taken a step in the right direction, if he keeps getting 50s then well, he probably is what England need right now from a WK. Then there is just the matter of his wicketkeeping...

at Nixon, I still remember in the world cup, he hit a reverse sweep for 6! I was in fits of laughter, funniest cricket I have seen for a while.

As for prior, If he keeps it up, he could be a decent lower order batsman....IF. He certainly has shown character recently.

Okay what was that. Matt prior is certainly far from there and why did you have to write that huge. needless.

 Prior has the support of both Alex Stewart and Jack Russell - that's quite a recommendation.  His glovework is improving nicely , even if he spilled one today (which I haven't seen).
      His batting is calmer , yet he still punishes the bad ball , especially through the off side.  He's got to be given an extended run and I fully expect him to keep in all three tests in NZ.  If he makes runs and keeps solidly , he'll see a lot of Steyn and company next year.

  Agreed Max , Prior must go to New Zealand.   That he's dropped eight off Sidebottom suggests it's a technical failing , something accentuated by a left arm swing bowler.
     I'm no fundi on keeping , but I've heard plenty of comments that his feet don't move naturally towards the ball , but I'd have thought that Moores would've spotted that and been working him very hard.
     If he has a poor tour then the keeping problems revert to square one and we'll have the press clamouring for all the usual suspects.  I hope he comes through as I see him moving up to number 6 and Freddie dropping to 7 by next summer.  The South African tour will be tough and if England are to win he'll have to cut down on the costly drops (so will the others too!)


Edited by Sledger - 21 December 2007 at 7:04am

that's excellent analysis, maybe England ought to spend time with him working at his strategy toward batting.

I wouldn't say it is the end as, among other things, I still can't see Mustard in the Test side, Ambrose remains untested and Foster has hardly scored a run for the Lions over in India

I agree,of what I've seen of Matt Prior he is better than Ambrose so why is he not in the team?
Although Mustard could probably take the ODI gloves I think Prior should have the test gloves!

Ambrose is being found out when batting. His one scoring shot is the cut - stop that and the runs dry up.   I was happy to see the back of Prior , but it's vital that the keeper contributes down the order.  One thing's clear , Boucher will make some telling runs at some stage during this test series - so must England's gloveman.

 Next week's  test is a big one for Ambrose. Firstly , he's got to tighten up behind the stumps and then he's got to make some sort of contribution with the bat.  England's record at Lords is pretty woeful , so if it goes true to form he'll get a real opportunity to right his batting woes.
         He'd better not drop Kallis on nought either!

jeez the Poms have got problems behind the wicket

Lisa , Clobber's comments that you've quoted are from December 2007 - they're hardly relevant now !

His batting was never a problem really, always thought he had it in him but his keeper has definitely come on good.  His next step, gotta learn to be able to bat in the shorter format.  He has never convinced me in ODI's as yet.  Still though, who cares, if I get to play at least one version of international cricket and do it very well, i'd take that anyday!!