Prior's astounding turnaround

Matt Prior's career has undergone a spectacular transformation in four years - from being labelled the instigator of the jellybeans incident, to becoming one of the best wicketkeeper-batsmen in Test cricket. The Independent's Stephen Brenkley profiles the unsung hero of the Lord's win.

As he demonstrated with some prowess at Lord's in the first Test, Prior has become an all-round player of style and substance. His recent form with the bat has been breathtaking: three hundreds in his last six innings, eight scores above 50 in his last 18.

The Hindu's S Ram Mahesh says it is too early to declare Prior the best wicketkeeper-batsman in the world, but his recent performances have earned him the right to enter the discussion.

Prior worked tirelessly with former English keeper Bruce French to groove his technique. In his early days, he rose late from an awkward wide-based crouch that anchored his bodyweight in his heels and prevented him from skipping sideways; the method was refined so he could move on the balls of his feet more often. His natural athleticism, with which he flung himself when standing back, was thus easier expressed.