Davies called up as Prior cover
Steven Davies, the Surrey wicketkeeper, has been drafted into the England squad for the third Test against West Indies after Matt Prior picked up an eye infection.
ESPNcricinfo staff
06-Jun-2012
Steven Davies left Surrey's game at Horsham for Edgbaston at the close of day one • Getty Images
England wicketkeeper Matt Prior has been passed fit for the Edgbaston Test after having picked up an eye infection earlier. Steven Davies, the Surrey wicketkeeper, was drafted into the England squad as cover for Prior for the third Test.
Davies, who was playing in the County Championship against Sussex at Horsham, has been released back to his club. He has yet to play Test cricket but has been the reserve Test keeper of the last two years for series against Australia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Prior, though, a day before the game, was confident he would be able to play. "I expect to be fine to play tomorrow," he said on Twitter. "The management have got cover in as a precaution on the off chance my vision is affected!"
Davies has played eight one-day internationals and five Twenty20s with his most recent appearance coming against Australia in Perth last February during the one-day series where he found out he had been left out of the World Cup squad in favour of Prior.
His call-up came despite England having Jonny Bairstow, who keeps wicket for Yorkshire, in the side to face West Indies. Bairstow is the regular wicketkeeper for England Lions, but this decision suggests the management feel he is not ready for the role in a Test match or they do not want to burden him with another task while he is trying to forge a place as a batsman.
Prior has played 39 consecutive Tests, not missing a match since he flew home from the Caribbean during the 2009 tour for the birth of his child and skipping the Barbados Test. On that occasion Tim Ambrose, the Warwickshire wicketkeeper, took his place.