Injured Prior finds solace in Lord’s win

LONDON: Seasoned stumper Matt Prior has admitted that it was a “tough week” after not being involved in a Lord’s Test for the first time since 2008 but said England’s memorable win had helped ease the pain.
Prior is continuing to rehabilitate from an Achilles injury and still hopes to play again. He underwent surgery last year and his last appearance remains the previous Lord’s Test.
Prior’s place as wicketkeeper has since been taken by Jos Buttler and he pulled off a couple of brilliant catches - as well as conceding 31 byes - as England beat New Zealand by 124 runs on the final day. Buttler, playing just his seventh Test, was the first other than Prior to keep at Lord’s since Tim Ambrose in 2008.
“I hadn’t missed a Lord’s Test match for six years,” Prior said. “The minute I saw Lord’s, you know the first Test of the summer is always a really big occasion for any English cricketer, so it was a tough week to watch but made a lot better by England’s performance and obviously the win.”
Prior was hoping to play for Sussex this season and possibly restate his case for England but remains some way from a return. “It’s still a slow progress unfortunately, it was obviously a very big injury and a big operation and it’s quite frustrating, I’m sort of taking two steps forward and four back,” he said. “But I haven’t given up hope that I’ll one day be back on a cricket pitch.”