Matt Prior

Prior bags England player of the year award

London: Matt Prior was named the England cricketer-of-the-year for 2012/13, in an acknowledgement of the Sussex wicket-keeper's consistency with both bat and gloves.

The 31-year-old is now one of the first names on the team sheet after England captain Alastair Cook and the latest demonstration of his worth to the side came with his match-saving unbeaten hundred in the drawn third Test against New Zealand in Auckland in March.

Prior was presented with his award at Lord's on Monday, where the first of a return two-Test series against New Zealand starts on Thursday.

"It was fantastic when I found out, a huge honour to be singled out as player of the year," said Prior, the first wicket-keeper to win the award. "I feel slightly uncomfortable with it, because individual accolades are not really the reason I play....more    

High drama offers fitting end to tense Test series

Auckland: England captain Alastair Cook found himself pacing around the dressing room as the three-match Test series against New Zealand drew to a gripping climax at Eden Park on Tuesday. He changed seats when Stuart Broad was the eighth man to be dismissed, having decided that "the luck" had run out of that perch, so he needed somewhere else to watch the final few overs. Cook, however, gave up on...  

McCullum heartbroken having failed to upset England

Auckland: New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum shrugged his shoulders and tutted slightly as he sat down to face the media after the final day of the Test series against England on Tuesday. McCullum's under-rated side had come within one wicket of upsetting the world's second-ranked Test team to claim the series 1-0 after the first two matches in Dunedin and Wellington ended in rain-affected draws. New Zealand had England on...  

Cook experiences relief and disappointment in NZ

Auckland: England captain Alastair Cook breathed a sigh of relief that his side managed to scrape out a nail-biting draw in the series-deciding third Test against New Zealand on Tuesday, though disappointment was the over-riding emotion. England wicketkeeper Matt Prior scored a belligerent century to help his side to 315 for 9, having long given up on chasing the 481 required for victory. The draw ensured that the three-match series,...  

Prior salutes phenomenal effort from England

Auckland: Matt Prior was ecstatic after playing a match-saving innings for his side on the final day of the deciding Test against New Zealand at the Eden Park on Tuesday. The wicketkeeper batsman came at the wicket when England lost their sixth wicket, Jonny Bairstow, at 159. But then he strung two vital partnerships back-to-back, first of 77 runs with Ian Bell and then of 67 runs with Stuart Broad...  

3rd Test, Day 5: Thrilling draw at Auckland; NZ-Eng series ends 0-0

Auckland: Matt Prior, Stuart Broad and the unlikely figure of Monty Panesar stood doggedly between New Zealand and history on Tuesday, earning England a gripping draw in the third cricket Test that left the three-match series stalemated at 0-0. Prior scored an unbeaten century and, together with perennial No. 11 Panesar, survived the last 3.3 overs on the final day with England nine down to save the match, leaving the...  

As it happened: New Zealand v England, 2nd Test, Day 3

New Zealand were 77 for 1 and trailed England by 134 runs at stumps on day three with Williamson (16) and Fulton (41) unbeaten at the crease. ...  

Lack of opportunity to play IPL could frustrate Eng players: Prior

The wicketkeeper-batsman suggested a change in the scheduling of the Tests to allow England players an opportunity to play in the IPL. ...  

Matt Prior wants England to bully Australia

England too have shown lately they can dish out verbal abuse in the field although, as Prior pointed out. ...  

4th Test: Anderson leads England's charge on day two

He took 3/24 as India, in reply to England's 330, closed the day on 87/4 with Gambhir, Sachin, Pujara, Sehwag all back in the hut. ...  

India vs England, 4th Test, Day 2: as it happened

James Anderson's three wickets reduced India to 87 for 4, after England made 330 to lead India by 243 runs on day 2 of the fourth Test in Nagpur. ...  

India vs England, Eden day four: as it happened

R Ashwin completed his half century as India crossed England's lead of 207-runs with just one wicket in hand. ...  

Review of India's performance in 1st Test

Cricketnext takes a look at India's noticeable players in the first Test against England. ...  

Everyone in team needs to contribute: Cook

After a crushing nine-wicket defeat against India in 1st Test, England skipper Cook said that all the team members need to chip in to turn the corner. ...  

Ind v Eng, 1st Test, Day 5: Collapse sets India 77 to win

India took the remaining five England wickets for 66 runs to set themselves a target of 77 to take a 1-0 series lead in the series. ...  

India vs England, 1st Test: as it happened

Needing 77 to win, Virender Sehwag and Cheteshwar Pujara added 57 runs for the opening stand to make it an easy chase for the hosts. ...  

We are still in the game, says Prior

After being bowled out out for 191 in the first innings, England staged a fightback in the second innings. ...  

We are prepared for the tough challenge against India: Prior

Matt Prior on Tuesday said that the tourists are well prepared for the tough challenge of taming the hosts. ...  

To tackle spin Eng players watch Dravid's videos

Ian Bell said they are going through videos to analyse how Rahul Dravid had played spin, used his feet against spin ...