Matt Prior for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 - The Prior Factor - Part 1 - Opinion
England’s resurgence in the Test arena and their status as the best Test side in the world has historically been fueled by an array of top quality players that they have had at their disposal. Ever since Michael Vaughan’s English side managed to topple the
Australians in the 2005 Ashes, their confidence as a Test match unit, both on and off the field, had been rebuilt. The catalyst for the change in their approach towards Test cricket could in part be attributed to players such as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/GP-Swann-c1501, who in a short
space of time, has established himself as the most revered spinner of his generation. There is no denying the fact however, that behind the stumps, one man’s presence has been pivotal in ensuring that England rise up the ranks. That man is Matt Prior.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MJ-Prior-c1984 was another addition in the bottomless quiver of South African born Englishmen that have embraced English colors upon their own discretion. Born in Transvaal, Prior had represented England at many levels before he finally was fast tracked
into the national side in 2007. His presence was a positive addition amid England’s horrendous World Cup campaign in the Caribbean. He managed to repay the faith that the selectors had in him, by notching up a fluid 126 at Lord's, against the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760.
That performance along with his sharp wicket keeping skills, quickly established him as a regular force. Numerous match winning performances ensured that prior quickly became a regular fixture in a star studded side.
Prior has made his mark in cricket in financially savory times and his role as a wicket keeper batsman has occasionally been disputed by his coach and captains. The problem for men such as Strauss, Cook and even Broad has been to conclude as to how the team
could best utilize him. With a compact technique, silken drives and penchant for power hitting when required, Prior was briefly used as an opener in the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 and in subsequent bilateral encounters in the ODI format. Yet despite his
ability to weave some wonderful innings and bat with assurance, Prior had been plagued with inconsistency, and his status as an opener for the team became disputed. The emergence of specialists such as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AJ-Strauss-c964 at the top of the order,
clouded Prior’s prowess to the point of being secured as a competent low order batsman with terrific wicket keeping skills. That permanent slot continues to yield dividends for England even today.
Prior’s average of 42 at a position that he normally bats in, has truly made him the best wicket keeper of his generation. With the veteran http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MV-Boucher-c2048 of South Africa, out of cricket after an unfortunate incident, not too many wicket keepers in the modern
era rival Prior’s stats, which are equated with his competency. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 for example, is by far the best wicket keeper in the modern era and is understandably miles ahead of Prior, but the latter has cemented himself as a fierce competitor
who has played a more crucial role for his side as compared to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755.
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