Matt Prior Returning to Competitive Cricket?

England’s Matt Prior was an integral part of England’s 2010-11 Ashes success Down Under. Sadly, injury forced him out after three Tests. His career would only have four more Tests,  until now. Prior supposedly made an appearance on the opening day of England’s final warm-up match before the Ashes. Noting his surprise at his brief England recall, Prior later tweeted: “I knew I was meant to be doing something today! What I’d give to be out there with those boys now”.

Sadly, to set the record straight, the 35-year old is still retired. As it turns out, there was a minor technical gaffe with the scoreboard which displayed the name Matt Prior instead of Jonny Bairstow.

England needed a reserve keeper on the opening day against the Cricket Australia XI after Jonny Bairstow damaged a finger. But instead of Prior, Ben Foakes was given permission to take the gloves and claimed a catch off Chris Woakes. Bairstow was quickly patched up and returned to the field. Prior had announced his retirement from all forms of cricket in 2015 due to a recurring Achilles tendon injury.

In the end, the error was corrected and a sense of normalcy returned. Meanwhile, the England cricket team reduced Australia to 249/9 in the warm up match. Chris Woakes starred for the home team as he snagged 6 wickets for 58 runs. “All the numbers are saying I’m getting close to getting cooked,” he said. “I’m pleased with where my body is at and getting overs in the legs is important.”

England got a minor scare when a stray Chris Woakes delivery clipped wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow in the finger. But despite that, England still kept the momentum going and Woakes downed more players. Fortunately, Bairstow took up the mitts again and put to rest any fears of injury. England cannot afford any more injuries to their squad. Ben Stokes was already causing them a number of headaches with his arrest after a bar brawl.