Matt Prior says it will be dream come true when he makes his Test debut on Thursday.

The 25-year-old Sussex wicketkeeper-batsman will face the West Indies at Lord's after being named in new coach Peter Moores' first England squad.

Prior was given the news in a phone call from chairman of selectors David Graveney on Saturday night and admitted it was a very emotional moment. He said: "It was the best feeling in the world. I knew I was quite close but it has been hard not to think about it for the last few days. I must admit it has been hard getting to sleep some nights thinking about it.

"It's a dream come true. I know everyone says that but this has been a dream of mine since I was very young.

"And it's the perfect scenario. I will be playing at Lord's, the home of cricket, and Mooresy is going to be in the dressing room with me for his first game as coach."

Prior has already played 12 one-day internationals, the most recent in April 2006.

But he was left out of the international squads last summer before returning to work with Moores at the England Academy during the winter.

He had a good tour of Bangladesh with England A earlier this year when he was leading run-scorer and although he has struggled for form so far this season, his career batting average of 38 is still better than all of his rivals and his wicketkeeping has undoubtedly improved in the last 12 months.

Now he is looking forward to the opportunity of cementing his place in the England side.

He added: "At the end of last summer I set myself the goal of playing in the first Test, not the World Cup or the Commonwealth Bank Series but this game.

"I will have to raise my game again, I know that, but it's a fantastic opportunity. I worked really hard in the winter and feel I have improved as a cricketer.

"Test cricket is the next step up. It's the pinnacle of the game when everything is a notch up and is geared towards elite performance."

Prior admits that playing under Moores, a coach he first worked with at the age of 12, will give him extra motivation.

He added: "When I was told I was in the squad I thought about the first time I met Pete when I did my first wicket-keeping session in the old Gilligan Stand at Hove.

"I will definitely want to perform for him. One of his strengths as a coach is that he pushes you to your limit, he will do that for everyone in the squad."

Prior will meet up with the rest of the squad in London tonight ahead of their first training session at Lord's tomorrow.

His absence means Hodd will keep wicket against his former county when Sussex meet Surrey at Hove in the Championship on Thursday.

Leave your good luck messages to Matt Prior below.