Prior confident in keeping

England wicketkeeper confident in skills behind the stumps

Last updated: 3rd July 2009

Prior confident in keeping

Prior: Happy with keeping form

I think first and foremost my sledging was blown hugely out of proportion. There were things reported at the time that I didn't say. But you learn from it too and I have grown up.

Matt Prior
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Matt Prior is ready for his wicketkeeping to go under the microscope once again during the Ashes, but insists he is confident in his glove work heading into a crucial summer.

The Sussex man will be England's keeper for the upcoming Ashes series, which starts on Wednesday in Cardiff, and he knows his every move will be monitored closely.

The 27-year-old has had few problems with the bat during his international career, but his skills behind the stumps have come under intense scrutiny.

With the Australians in England this summer, Prior knows that every mistake he makes will be magnified, but he is satisfied he has done enough work to improve his keeping to get through it.

"I think when you come into international cricket and you're a decent batsman, people become more critical of your keeping," Prior told The Sun..

"And likewise if they know you can keep wicket well, they question your batting - there seems to be no happy medium.

"But I'm hugely confident in my keeping and don't think I was as bad as people made out.

Opinions

"People will always have their opinions but I know I'm working as hard as I can and have the backing of my coach, captain and team-mates."

With the Cardiff wicket expected to turn, England could play both Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar, and that would not cause any problems for Prior.

"It's exciting to think we may have a spinning wicket at Cardiff. I have spent a lot of my career at Sussex stood-up to Mushtaq Ahmed and feel very confident," Prior added.

"We're very pleased with the guys we have too - Swanny has been bowling beautifully and Monty has won games for us in the past."

The Ashes will also intensify the war of words on the field, with the Aussies the kings of sledging and intimidating on the field.

Prior first emerged on the Test scene in 2007 and also received criticism for being too talkative behind the stumps, but he says he has now curbed his sledging.

"I think first and foremost my sledging was blown hugely out of proportion," he added. "There were things reported at the time that I didn't say.

"But you learn from it too and I have grown up. What's said on the field doesn't matter - it's about runs, wickets and catches."