Matt Prior is Under Pressure

If you were soundtracking the innings that Matt Prior played for England in the 2nd test yesterday, the familiar refrain of Queen and David Bowie's 'Under Pressure' would be booming out from the eyesore that is the new Point conference centre that has sprung up next to the pavillion at Old Trafford.

The normally fluid Prior ground out a turgid 93 before the pressure of reaching his third test century got to him and with partners running out he played a risky reverse sweep and was caught at gully by Jahurul Islam.

Since regaining his position as England wicketkeeper, Prior has done well enough to average a tick over 40 with the bat in tests and his work with the gloves has come on leaps and bounds. So in normal circumstances his place would be secure.

Unfortunately for Prior, looming rapidly in his rear view mirror is the figure of Craig Kieswetter. The Somerset keeper has already usurped Prior in the Twenty 20 side and starred in England's surprise triumph in the Caribbean. Kieswetter looks like he will also take Prior's role in the one day squad announced later this week for the utterly pointless series against Australia.

That leaves his test place. England are desperate to have a keeper who is also a genuine number six, and the feeling is that Prior is more of a seven. This means that the spectre of Kieswetter is never far away. Prior's decent test form has kept him in for now as has the fact that Kieswetter is not exactly the finished article with the gloves. 

Moreover, England have not yet found an all rounder to replace Andrew Flintoff who can bat at seven. Tim Bresnan, Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad are all number eights and the former is arguably not good enough with the ball in any case to warrant a place in the side.

But much like Ian Healy knew he was on borrowed time when Adam Gilchrist emerged, so Prior is likely to feel the same about Kieswetter. And Prior is no Healy. Successive England selectors in the past have shown that keepers who score runs are valued higher than those that exhibit excellence with the gloves. Indeed, that is why Prior got into the side in the first place.

So expect plenty of scratchy and ugly knocks from Prior up to and including the Ashes. That is if he lasts that long.  

Comments

[Ed Lamb]

His Test place is totally secure as he's a better batsman than Kieswetter and a far better keeper. He's under pressure for his ODI place, but not his Test place as you seem to suggest.

[The Reverse Sweep]

Agreed that Prior is a much better keeper - he should be congratulated here for the significant improvement he has made. On the batting front, I am not sure I agree. I think it is actually very close, but Prior is the man in possession, has a test match average of over 40 and should at least hold on to his spot for the Ashes. But Kieswetter is only 21 and he can only get better with both bat and gloves. What with Steven Davies, England now have three top class wicket-keeper/batsmen.

[Ed Lamb]

I think England see Davies as a fair way ahead of Kieswetter as Test understudy to Prior. Kieswetter played brilliantly in the world Twenty20 but luck featured heavily too - he was plumb LBW in both the semi and final and not given. Hopefully he is getting some one on one wicket-keeping coaching to try and improve his keeping so he can be considered for Tests. Personally I don't think he can really be considered as yet, but in the not too distant future I think we could have 3 top class wicket-keeper/batsmen as you suggest. And of course, as Nasser Hussain said yesterday on Sky, the best keeper in the world in Foster!

[The Reverse Sweep]

Ah! James Foster, now there is a cricketer who has been messed about by the selectors