Moores: Prior deserves his England chance

Prior, 25, will make his Test debut against West Indies at Lord's on Thursday in Moores' first match as England coach.

The pair have worked together since Prior was 12 years old and in the Sussex junior set-up.

Moores has clearly had an influence on his selection ahead of rival candidates such as Paul Nixon, James Foster and Steven Davies and admitted it was a "tight call."

But speaking exclusively to The Argus, he said Prior had worked hard for his opportunity, particularly last winter when he moved his game forward again working with Moores at the National Academy.

Moores said: "It's a great opportunity for Matt to enjoy the experience, relax and hopefully play well.

"Everyone knows that when he plays well he's a very exciting cricketer to watch.

"He's worked hard for his chance.

"He had a great A tour this winter and over the last few years he has matured a lot as a cricketer, both mentally and in the technical sense of his game."

Both Moores and chairman of selectors David Graveney admitted choosing Prior ahead of rivals for the wicketkeeper's job had been the hardest part of Saturday's selection meeting.

Moores said: "A lot of candidates have done really well and it was a tight call because no one has jumped miles ahead of anyone else."

Graveney added: "There are a lot of contenders out there to keep wicket. We only put two wicketkeepers in the performance squad (Prior and Nixon) but we could have put six in.

"Matt has been involved with the set-up and has played international one-day cricket. It was a close call but his capabilities of scoring runs, which he has shown over quite a long period of time with Sussex, probably swung the balance.

"Matt averages nearly 40 with the bat in first-class cricket and this was an important factor in reaching our decision.

"He performed well for England A in the winter, has experienced the international environment before and will, I am sure, be very excited about the prospect of making his Test debut at Lord's."

Country Prior becomes the first Sussex player to play Test cricket for his country since James Kirtley made four appearances in 2003-04.

Skipper Chris Adams, who played five Tests against South Africa in 1999, believes Prior will be able to cope with the demands of Test cricket.

He said: "I'm delighted for Matt because all the hard work he has put in has paid off. Test cricket is a big step up and a different level to what he's been used to in the county game but I'm sure he will find a way of adapting.

"Having Pete (Moores) there as well won't do him any harm. He has so much respect for Peter and listens carefully to what he has to say - it can only help.

"I also think it's a great achievement for Sussex cricket. Here we have a lad who went to Brighton College, came through the youth system and into the first team and is now playing Test cricket for England.

"It should act as an incentive to every youngster in our junior squads to try and emulate what Matt has achieved."

Michael Vaughan has lost his fitness battle to lead out England in the opening Test against West Indies.

Vaughan was optimistic of making the squad despite breaking his finger playing for Yorkshire against Hampshire last week.

But he has failed to recover sufficiently and instead England have appointed Andrew Strauss as temporary captain.

England: AJ Strauss (Middlesex, capt) Age 30 Tests 36, AN Cook (Essex) 22 14, IR Bell (Warwickshire) 25 23, KP Pietersen (Hampshire) 26 23, PD Collingwood (Durham) 30 20, A Flintoff (Lancashire) 29 66, OA Shah (Middlesex) 28 1, MJ Prior (Sussex, wkt) 25 0, MJ Hoggard (Yorkshire) 30 62, SJ Harmison (Durham) 28 49, LE Plunkett (Durham) 22 6, MS Panesar (Northamptonshire) 25 13.