Former England wicketkeeper Matt Prior retires from cricket

Former England wicketkeeper Matt Prior has confirmed his retirement from all forms of cricket with immediate effect after failing to overcome an Achilles injury.

The 33-year-old Sussex star played in 79 Test matches and was a mainstay for England as they won three Ashes series in a row in 2009, 2010-11 and 2013.

Prior said: "Today is a very sad day for me as I am forced to announce my retirement from the game I love. I had been hoping and expecting to be fit for the start of the 2015 season. Unfortunately, this has proved impossible, and I have now had to reach this decision. 

"I feel honoured to have played for Sussex and England as many times as I have and shared so many great times with both teams. I also feel privileged to have been involved in an era of such success for English cricket."

ECB director of England cricket Andrew Strauss, who captained Prior for England, said: "Matt has had a wonderful career as a wicketkeeper-batsman for both Sussex and England. During a period where the Test team won three Ashes series and achieved the World no.1 ranking, Matt's contribution, both on and off the field, was immense."

Sussex were equally effusive in their praise. Their professional cricket manager Mark Robinson said: "It is a sad day when a cricketer of such talent and character and who has achieved so much, and has the ability to achieve so much more, is forced to retire through injury."

Prior made his Test debut in 2007 against the West Indies at Lord's and was quick to cause a stir with a century. Two years later, he hit his highest score - an unbeaten 131 - against the same opposition in Port of Spain.

By the time he retired from Test match cricket in the summer of 2014, he had struck 4,099 runs at an average of 40.18 and taken 243 catches along with 13 stumpings.

Prior was also selected for 68 ODIs and contributed 1,282 runs at 24.18, taking 71 catches and making eight stumpings.