No one has been more frustrated by the wet start to Sussex's Benson and Hedges Cup campaign than young wicketkeeper-batsman Matt Prior.

The 19-year-old is desperate to strap his pads on again after making such an eye-catching debut for the county against Worcestershire last week.

Prior's performances in the drawn Championship game and the following day's Norwich Union League fixture impressed everyone - coach Peter Moores, his team-mates and the supporters desperate to see a Sussex youngster come through and establish himself as a first-class cricketer.

The first encouraging hint that Prior felt he belonged on this stage came before he'd faced a ball.

The man he replaced, Robin Martin-Jenkins, had barely dislodged himself from the crease when Prior came bounding down the steps at New Road, full of vim and vigour and seemingly ready for the challenge.

Then there was the quality of his strokes. A deliberate edge through third man off Andy Bichel got him off the mark and he proceeded to take three more boundaries off the Australian Test player, including a classical cover drive and two powerful square cuts in his 25 not out.

Bichel's body language clearly suggested he felt Prior should be treating last season's leading domestic wicket taker Down Under with a bit more respect.

When an edge off Phil Weston's bat thudded into his gloves an hour later Prior had his first first-class victim and although he was run out for one in the Norwich Union League game at Kidderminster the following day, Prior impressed with the quality of his glove work, particularly standing up to the likes of Robin Martin-Jenkins and Mark Robinson.

Prior's sense of pleasure after his debut was as acute as the frustration he has felt since the weekend as the rain fell and washed out the opening two B&H Cup ties against Essex and Surrey.

"It was nice to get out there at Worcester because you do ask yourself the question 'are you good enough?,' he said.

"I would have liked to have batted a bit longer in the Championship match. The wicket was good, the ball was coming onto the bat nicely and I was enjoying the challenge. I got some stick from Bichel, but I gave him a bit back as well."

Among his growing band of admirers is Moores who believes Prior's performance gave the whole team a lift.

"It was great to see him go out there with such an air of confidence and then hit Bichel, who was their best bowler, for three fours and basically treat him with an air of disdain," said Moores.

"He took that confidence into his keeping and his display pleased me almost as much as his batting.

"I think the team as a whole should get some credit as well. The atmosphere is very good and any youngster will feel part of the team because they are treated as an equal.

"If Matt keeps enjoying his cricket then his talent will come through and his confidence will rub off on other people."

It's still early days of course and Prior, who has been playing for the county at youth level since the age of 11, recognises the hard work that lies ahead if he is to keep improving and establish himself in the team.

But the signs are that the county's search for someone to keep wicket and score runs, which has been ongoing since Moores's retirement three years ago, might be over.

Prior came in at No. 8 against Worcestershire but did enough to suggest that he is capable of batting a couple of places higher.

"It's still very early for Matt," added Moores. "But the signs are very promising. It was nice to see a youngster with a bit of attitude come through.

"He wants to work hard at his game and youth revitalises the whole squad and Matt's performances so far have been like a breath of fresh air."