Matt Prior

Born in South Africa, Matt Prior moved to England at an early age and made his mark with Sussex before making his test debut for England in 2007. He played 6 seasons for Sussex before making his international debut. During his time at Sussex, he had to share wicket-keeping duties with another England player - Tim Ambrose - which hampered his chances of making the national side. Finally he got his chance and began superbly making an unbeaten 126 at Lord's against West Indies - becoming the first England wicket-keeper to achieve that feat. However his keeping skills went for a toss and poor performances against India and Sri Lanka in the winter saw him dropped from the side for the tour to New Zealand in 2008.

But soon his keeping improved, and with his batting at it's best he was back in the side soon. He performed quite magnificently in the 2009 Ashes series, batting with gusto and often providing crucial runs at the No. 7 position. His catching improved considerably and he was one of the top performers during the Ashes. The 2011 Ashes series also saw him finish with a fine attacking hundred in the last game at Sydney; he also took 23 catches behind the stumps.

A counter-attacking batsman at No. 7, he has often rescued England with aggressive knocks, forging partnerships with the tail. He is one of the cleanest strikers of a cricket ball and his driving in front of the wicket is a treat to watch. He is quite strong square of the wicket, with an ability to cut and pull. Though his keeping was not up to scratch when he began, he has improved considerably and of late is quite safe behind the stumps.

He was involved in an ugly incident in the test against Sri Lanka at Lord's when he smashed a window in anger after being dismissed and was reprimanded by the ICC and let off without a fine. He later apologised for the incident.

Prior may not have been comfortable in coloured clothing but has evolved leaps and bounds to become England's most bankable Test wicket-keeper batsman in recent years. Whilst his more illustrious compatriots failed in the home Test series against South Africa in 2012, Prior stood tall amidst all ruins, making 275 runs at at a more than healthy average of 45.83 besides pulling off some staggering catches behind the sticks. Carrying forth his bright form, the diminutive cricketer, mastered the viscous turning tracks in the Indian sub-continent, signing off the historic tour with 258 runs in only five innings, often altering scripts with the lower order.

Matt Prior's peerless consistency coupled with iron-willed determination saw him being recognized as England's cricketer of year in May 2013. However, his form dipped after the New Zealand tour and did not manage to score a fifty in both the home Ashes series in 2013 and the 2013-14 series Down Under. He pulled out midway through the home series against India to undergo reconstructive surgery to treat a tendon tear. He was forced into retirement in June 2015 after medical experts advised him against returning to competitive cricket in lieu of his injury and subsequent rehabilitation.

Some interesting facts about Matt Prior: His mother is South African and his father is English.

He is married to Emily, the daughter of former footballer Sammy Nelson who played for Arsenal F.C. and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Prior received the NBC Denis Compton Award for young cricketers three times in his career.

by Srivathsa and Deivarayn Muthu