Jack Russell shows supports for Matt Prior
Former English wicket-keeper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MJ-Prior-c1984 is the right choice for the 2011 World Cup. He thinks that Prior is an experienced campaigner and the team will be benefited by his
aggression in batting and presence behind the stumps.
The 28-year-old cricketer was dropped from English ODI side in February 2010 but was later recalled to the Ashes winning squad that is currently playing in Australia. He was also selected for the 15-man
squad for the World Cup ahead of Surrey wicket-keeper, Steven Davies.
The right-hand batsmen didn’t started off as he would have hoped, scoring two consecutive ducks; however he bounced back in his third ODI scoring 67 runs from 58 balls. His innings helped the visitors
to a 21-run win over their arch rivals. He opened for his team in that game and will most likely open alongside skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AJ-Strauss-c964 in the mega event.
Russell, who was the man with the gloves at the 1996 World Cup, believes that Prior's determination to reclaim his lost position in the playing XI will help him a lot in the upcoming event.
He said, “I think the period out of the one-day side probably helped him, and it got his appetite back. It made him realize it's not a given that he's in this team, so he went away and worked hard, and
he's a very fine all-round cricketer now ”
He further expressed, “He’s an aggressive character who takes the game to the opposition, he's got that freedom mentally, and the belief that he can go out there and do his stuff with bat and gloves”.
Former cricketer commiserated with young Davies, who was not selected in the final-15 for the World Cup despite performing exceptionally well in the ODI’s that he played. Though he believes that 24-year-old
cricketer still has to learn how to maneuver the field and lift teams spirit, as it is the responsibility of wicket-keepers.
He further differentiated between the two players, and said that http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sussex-c852 man has leadership qualities, while Davies is still in learning phase.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Russell-c87177 said that Davies is yet to cross the mental bridges, which allow a player to feel he is running the show in the field. The left-hand batsman is quieter, whereas Matt gets into players head a bit
more through continuous talking, and drives and push things around. Sides need a guy like that when teams are playing at top level, especially in the subcontinent where the pitches are batsmen friendly and bowlers need all the support they can get from their
fielders.
Prior was magnificent during the Ashes Tests, he claimed 23 catches in five games and also scored his first Ashes hundred. Former http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Gloucestershire-c785 cricketer acknowledges it and says that wicket-keeper is
the person to whom every player looks at in the field and if he catches each delivery he can inspire others to do the same.
He, on the other hand advised the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Surrey-c851 player to add some aggression to his game with bat and gloves. He himself was very vocal behind the stumps and wants Prior to do the same as this responsibility
lies with him now.
The World Cup will be hosted in the subcontinent after fifteen years. In 1996 England went into the tournament with a series defeat and did not perform as they would have liked. Russell however thinks
that current squad is mentally stronger and will not be affected by series loss to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746.
He expressed that playing in subcontinent is way different than playing in Australia, if they have a good start to the campaign they can build on it. According to him, there is no reason why http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 can’t
lift their maiden trophy.
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