England wicket-keeper Matt Prior said Wednesday he expected to play in the third Test against the West Indies here at Edgbaston despite an eye infection.
Published: Jun 07, 2012, 10:26 AM (IST)
Edited: Jun 07, 2012, 10:26 AM (IST)
Matt Prior has been a key figure in England’s rise to the top of the world Test rankings and in 54 matches at this level has scored six hundreds, including a debut ton against the West Indies at Lord’s in 2007 © AFP
Birmingham: June 7, 2012
England wicket-keeper Matt Prior said Wednesday he expected to play in the third Test against the West Indies at Edgbaston despite an eye infection.
Concerned England officials called Surrey keeper Steven Davies into their squad as cover on Wednesday, a day before the final match of a series where the hosts have an unbeatable 2-0 lead was due to start.
But Prior subsequently told his Twitter followers: “I expect to be fine to play tomorrow (Thursday). The management have got cover in as a precaution on the off chance my vision is affected!”
The 30-year-old Sussex wicket-keeper/batsman has been a key figure in England’s rise to the top of the world Test rankings and in 54 matches at this level has scored six hundreds, including a debut ton against the West Indies at Lord’s in 2007.
After some shaky moments behind the stumps early in his international career, Prior has also proved an increasingly reliable keeper.
He has been an ever present for England’s last 39 Tests since missing a match against the West Indies at Barbados in March 2009 to attend the birth of his son.
Earlier, a brief England statement announced Davies’s call-up by saying: “Surrey wicketkeeper Steve Davies called into Test squad as cover for Matt Prior who has an eye infection. Davies will be released tomorrow (Thursday) a.m. if not required.”
Davies, 25, has yet to make his Test debut but has played eight one-day internationals and five Twenty20 matches for England.
He is currently appearing for Surrey in their ongoing County Championship match against Sussex at Horsham and will return to that fixture if England ultimately decide to do without him in Birmingham.
England had a second wicket-keeper in their original 12-man squad in Yorkshire’s Jonathan Bairstow.
But in his two Test appearances, both in this series, Bairstow, the son of former England keeper David, has played as a batsman only.(AFP)
