Agencies
London, June 11
Sussex and England wicket-keeper Matt Prior today announced his retirement from all forms of professional cricket, on medical advice. Prior, who last played for England in the Lord’s Test against India last summer, underwent reconstructive surgery to repair a three-inch tear to his left Achilles tendon. The rehabilitation, originally slated for six months was pushed back by a further three months before doctors advised Prior against returning to competitive cricket.
Prior played 79 Tests and ended with 256 dismissals in addition to his 4099 Test runs. He shot to limelight by becoming the first England wicket-keeper to score a century on Test debut against West Indies at Lord’s in 2007. However, he was much maligned for his glove-work. Despite shuttling in and out of the Test side early in his career, Prior, a natural stroke-maker, became the second fastest England keeper to reach 1000 Test runs behind Les Ames.His career tally with the gloves leaves him behind only Alan Knott in the list of England wicket-keepers in Test history and ninth in the all-tine world list. The South African-born Prior also represented England in 68 ODIs and 10 T20Is. In his time with the England Test team, Prior was part of three successful Ashes campaigns and was a vital cog in England’s rise to the top of the Test rankings. The highlight of his personal achievements, however, was the defiant 110 he scored against New Zealand at Eden Park, Auckland to save the Test series.
Conveying his decision, 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.
“I would like to thank my family, team-mates, coaches and the people behind the scenes that have supported me throughout the years. I have created friendships that will last forever. It would also be remiss of me not to thank the fantastic support I have had from cricket fans both at home and abroad.
“I have always tried to play with pride and passion and have a deep belief that the team will always come first, a value that will never leave me whatever I go on to do. Although I haven’t achieved all the goals I had set out to, I feel immensely proud of what I have done in my career. Sadly it is now time to move on.”
ECB’s Director, England Cricket Andrew Strauss said: “Matt has had a wonderful career as a wicket-keeper 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.
“It is a huge shame that his career has come to an end in this way, although his athletic wicket-keeping and counter attacking batting will live long in the memories of both his team-mates and England supporters.”
