He was a wicket-keeper and his aggressive right-handed batting enabled him to open the innings in ODI matches, even though he made very limited appearances in shorter forms of the game.

[3] He returned for the 2008 series against South Africa, and was retained into 2009, where he became the second-fastest England keeper to reach 1,000 Test runs, behind Les Ames.

[6] Prior attended Brighton College during which time he began playing for Sussex County Cricket Club.

In 2005 Matt made fewer runs, with 874, but also became Sussex's first choice wicket-keeper again after having shared duties with Tim Ambrose in the two previous seasons.

Matt Prior was chosen ahead of Paul Nixon for the keeper's spot for the first Test of the summer at Lord's in 2007 against the West Indies.

He scored a hundred on his debut, taking just 105 deliveries and hitting 16 boundaries after coming in at number 7, and finishing on 126 not out.

He became the first England wicket keeper to score a Test hundred on debut[9] and the 17th English batsman to record the feat overall.

The last wicketkeeper to make a half century on debut was Jack Russell, who scored 94 against Sri Lanka at Lords in 1988.

[9] Prior continued his impressive form into the next game, making 75 as England secured a victory on an innings and 283 runs.

After making four in the fourth match, Prior made 46 in the fifth ODI before being stumped, as England lost the game by 38 runs.

It was the poor form with the gloves that led to him being dropped for the 2008 tour of New Zealand for Tim Ambrose, the Warwickshire keeper and former Sussex rival.

When the squad was announced on 4 January 2008, Chairman of Selectors David Graveney stated – "Prior performed well with the bat in Sri Lanka and it has been a difficult decision to leave him out of this tour, but the selectors feel that he needs to further improve his wicket-keeping in order to realise his full potential in international cricket.

"[3] Prior considered ending his career as a wicketkeeper to concentrate on his batting,[4] but decided to continue after speaking with Alec Stewart.

He continued his good form into the third game of the series to help England win by over 100 runs after hitting 33.

In the fourth match he had no time to make a contribution in the back end of the innings and in the final game he again did not bat as England lost the series 5–0.

He retained his place in the Test side for the 2009 Ashes, despite James Foster's apparently superior ability behind the sticks, as displayed to much acclaim during the World Twenty20.

Prior had done well with the bat for Sussex in the County Championship, averaging over fifty, but had not kept wicket due to a hand injury sustained against the West Indies.

Despite suffering from back spasms before the start of the first day, raising doubts as to his fitness to play, Prior offered a lone hand in the first innings at Headingley, scoring 37 not out as England subsided to 102 all out against Australia's seam attack; Prior aside, only Alastair Cook (30) reached double figures.

In the following match he made a quick fire 93 which helped to accelerate the innings and guide England to a comfortable win.

In the controversial test series against Pakistan, Prior struggled to make an impact in the first two games, recording low scores.

He followed this up with 85 runs as England won by an innings to take a 2–1 series lead and retain the Ashes with a Test to spare.

Prior played in the test series against Sri Lanka, as he continued to establish himself as a key player.

In a rain affected match, Prior only made 4, but he did take five catches as England won the series 1–0.

Prior hit 71 and 103 in the first test as he continued to stake a claim for being the best wicket keeper batsman in the world.

England won the second match to level the series, with Prior taking four catches and making 11 runs.

Prior gave England hope, making 73 and batting well with Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad.

[4] Matt Prior was promoted to vice-captain of the test side following Andrew Strauss' retirement and Alastair Cook subsequently being made captain.

In the second test he hit 82 but the match again finished in a draw as the pitches suited the batsmen and made it difficult for bowlers to make an impact.

In the third test Prior made 73 in the first innings, before helping England to secure a draw with a stunning 110 not out.

England lost the match and Prior later announced that he would be undergoing an operation on his Achilles, ruling him out for the rest of the series.