RESPECT Matt Prior

[Horsham Gull]

Prior: I've urned some respect | The Sun |Sport|Cricket

 

[bigbadbonkingbob]

I was a big critic of Prior when he was first selected - as a Notts fan I'm still furious at the way that the England set up have mistreated Chris Read - but Prior has really grown into the job and his glovework has come on in leaps and bounds. Fair play to him, he's earned the right to shove it back down people's throats and he's done it the right way.

 

[Tooting Gull]

The measure of his achievement is that the biggest debate before the series is now no longer an issue. Fair play to the bloke, no substitute for hard work at your weaknesses and the improvement has been startling.

 

[turienzo's lovechild]

EASILY our best keeper

 

[bigbadbonkingbob]

EASILY our best keeper

He isn't, Chris Read is by a long distance the best gloveman in England but after the whole saga he went through with that twat Fletcher and his subsequent playing in the ICL he's never going to get picked again. Prior is the best England keeper who isn't Chris Read.

 

[turienzo's lovechild]

He isn't, Chris Read is by a long distance the best gloveman in England but after the whole saga he went through with that twat Fletcher and his subsequent playing in the ICL he's never going to get picked again. Prior is the best England keeper who isn't Chris Read.

read may be a better 'gloveman', but prior is definitely the best all round package

and his keeping is easily good enough to not be a reason for dropping him

 

[bigbadbonkingbob]

read may be a better 'gloveman', but prior is definitely the best all round package

and his keeping is easily good enough to not be a reason for dropping him

Just to clarify, I'm not for a moment advocating dropping Prior. Read's time and opportunity have long since gone, and I'm very happy with Prior. I'm just taking issue with your assertion that Prior is "EASILY our best keeper" - he's the best available option currently as a batsman/keeper and his glovework has definitely improved hugely, but he's still an average gloveman who's keeping the place warm until Steve Davies is ready for Test cricket.

 

[CHAPPERS]

but he's still an average gloveman who's keeping the place warm until Steve Davies is ready for Test cricket.

If Prior is still averaging 40 in tests then Davies might have a very long wait.

 

[Brovion]

Just to clarify, I'm not for a moment advocating dropping Prior. Read's time and opportunity have long since gone, and I'm very happy with Prior. I'm just taking issue with your assertion that Prior is "EASILY our best keeper"...

At the start of the season there was a body of local opinion that reckoned he wasn't the best keeper in Sussex let alone in England

 

[Was not Was]

At the start of the season there was a body of local opinion that reckoned he wasn't the best keeper in Sussex let alone in England

Yeah that was me among others. Am now hanging my head in shame.

 

[bigbadbonkingbob]

At the start of the season there was a body of local opinion that reckoned he wasn't the best keeper in Sussex let alone in England

There was, perhaps with some merit, a school of thought that had Foster played for Moores at Sussex rather than Prior, then he would have been the first choice for England. That having been said, Prior has made the position his own and it's hard to begrudge him now.

I'm still mortally embarrassed that Geraint Jones has an MBE.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

He isn't, Chris Read is by a long distance the best gloveman in England

I think a lot of people would argue with that.

 

[GT49er]

I'm just happy to see a Sussex player in the England team. Over the years the selectors have generally seemed to have an "Anyone as they're not Sussex" approach. Prior is doing an excellent job - and long may it continue! Don't give 'em a chance to drop you, Matt!

 

[Basil Fawlty]

Just to clarify, I'm not for a moment advocating dropping Prior. Read's time and opportunity have long since gone, and I'm very happy with Prior. I'm just taking issue with your assertion that Prior is "EASILY our best keeper" - he's the best available option currently as a batsman/keeper and his glovework has definitely improved hugely, but he's still an average gloveman who's keeping the place warm until Steve Davies is ready for Test cricket.

Does that Stumping in the fifth test count? Does his 40 odd average in test matches count? Well sir I think you're talking bollocks. Steve Davies will have a VERY long wait to get the gloves of Prior!

 

[bigbadbonkingbob]

I think a lot of people would argue with that.

Yes, and they'd all be from Sussex, and they'd all be wrong.

I'm not having a go at Prior, I like him. But he's nothing like as good a keeper as Read, and if you don't believe me then just read what Rod Marsh has to say.

 

[bigbadbonkingbob]

Does that Stumping in the fifth test count? Does his 40 odd average in test matches count? Well sir I think you're talking bollocks. Steve Davies will have a VERY long wait to get the gloves of Prior!

Erm....... what point are you trying to make? I've said that Prior is a decent keeper now and a good bat, but the fact is that when Davies is a couple or three years older than he is now he'll be a better keeper and probably a better bat than Prior has ever been or ever will be. Sorry, that's just the way it is. One decent stumping and a reasonable average against a lot of pretty mediocre bowling won't change that.

 

[Mackenzie]

Yes, and they'd all be from Sussex, and they'd all be wrong.

I'm not having a go at Prior, I like him. But he's nothing like as good a keeper as Read, and if you don't believe me then just read what Rod Marsh has to say.

I would say that Mr Marsh may have a bit of an agenda, wouldn't you?

 

[Mackenzie]

Erm....... what point are you trying to make? I've said that Prior is a decent keeper now and a good bat, but the fact is that when Davies is a couple or three years older than he is now he'll be a better keeper and probably a better bat than Prior has ever been or ever will be. Sorry, that's just the way it is. One decent stumping and a reasonable average against a lot of pretty mediocre bowling won't change that.

...There is a difference between county and test cricket, ask Davies's old team mate Graham Hick!.....but Davies does seem the natural successor (Hoddy might have a say in things though )

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Yes, and they'd all be from Sussex, and they'd all be wrong.

I'm not having a go at Prior, I like him. But he's nothing like as good a keeper as Read, and if you don't believe me then just read what Rod Marsh has to say.

Didn't know Foster and Davies fans all came from Sussex. They might claim that they have a decent gloveman?