Pressure on Prior

Matt Prior is not having a Test to remember at The Oval. On the first two days he dropped Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman, while also letting through the small matter of 33 byes. In the last few Tests the runs have dried up, too, and coupled with the flak he received after the Trent Bridge match the honeymoon period is well and truly over. In The Times Simon Barnes says the England selectors only have themselves to blame as they continue to search for keepers who bat first and catch second.

But the fact is, Prior is not a very good Test-match wicketkeeper to start with and he has had two days when he has slipped well below his best. So, to look at it logically, he has to bat and bat; show us what he is best at. Which is not keeping wicket. That’s not what he was picked for.