Matthew Prior moved to England from South Africa and represented England at all ages, up to and including the Under-19 squad, making his Sussex debut in 2001. An aggressive batsman whose wicketkeeping development was slightly hampered by having to share county duties with Tim Ambrose, he toured India with the England A side in 2003-04. He was selected to tour Zimbabwe as part of England's one-day squad in November 2004 and played in just one match, striking 35. He rejoined the A team for their series against United Arab Emirates and, after an unconvincing first match - he made 0 - he went on hit 84, 56 and 122 not out. He had less success in the subsequent triangular tournament against Sri Lanka A and Pakistan A. Prior earned selection for the England winter tours of Pakistan and India in 2005-06, but playing mostly as a batsman he failed to make any real impact. This lack of form resulted in him missing out of the Champions Trophy in October 2006, but he was named in the Academy squad to be stationed in Perth during the 2006-07 Ashes series. Two fifties in England A's 2-1 win over Bangladesh A wasn't enough to book him a World Cup berth, but his chance arrived when he was named in the squad for the first Test against West Indies. He began in thrilling fashion, becoming the first England wicketkeeper to score a century on debut with an unbeaten 126 at Lord's, followed by 75 at Headingley. The new Alec Stewart, England hoped, had arrived. However, a poor subsequent series against India and a disappointing tour to Sri Lanka exposed flaws with his keeping, as his star diminished and he was dropped for England's tour of New Zealand in 2008, with his old Sussex rival, Ambrose, taking over his role. But Prior's extra batting class could not be ignored for long, and he returned to the side before the year was out, with his keeping vastly improved during his spell on the outside. He was one of the unsung heroes of England's Ashes triumph in 2009, providing momentum-shifting cameos at No. 6 in the order, and pulling off a series of impressive catches and stumpings. He bettered that effort on the subsequent tour of Australia in 2010-11, claiming 23 catches in the series including an Ashes-record-equalling six in the first innings at Melbourne, and concluded the series with his first hundred against Australia, at Sydney.
Will Luke January 2011