22 July,2014 10:26 AM IST | | Agencies
England wicketkeeper Matt Prior said after his side's crushing defeat by India that he will not play any more Tests this season and acknowledged he may never play another international
Matt Prior
England wicketkeeper Matt Prior said after his side's crushing defeat by India that he will not play any more Tests this season and acknowledged he may never play another international.
Matt Prior
Prior, 32, said he needs time off to treat injuries including a troublesome Achilles problem that will need surgery. The Sussex wicketkeeper was one of the England batsmen caught out trying to hook Ishant Sharma's short balls on India's day of triumph in the second Test at Lord's.
He has won 79 England caps since 2007, but has faced growing criticism this season. Prior is likely to be replaced by Lancashire's Jos Buttler for the third Test against India starting in Southampton on Sunday.
"I'm not doing justice to myself and more importantly the team and that is what matters first and foremost," Prior told English media. "I tore my quad before the first Test and my right hand has been beaten to a pulp, but the main issue is the Achilles.
"Now we have the time, I want to be pro-active about how we deal with it so I imagine that I'll have an operation. "I've always said as long as I can do my job I will manage the pain and get on with it, but it has now got to the point where I can't do my job to the level I expect of myself," he said. Prior admitted he may never play for England again.
"It is a huge decision and not one I've taken lightly obviously because I could have played my last game," he added. England have now gone 10 Tests without a win and Prior managed only 12 runs in the second innings as Ishant Sharma tore through England's middle order.
"I've made my decision for the good of the team and whoever comes in I genuinely wish them the best of luck and hope they go well and perform and help the team win. That is all I want," he said.
"If that happens and I don't play again, then that was my lot. I'll be disappointed because there are a few things that I wanted to achieve and thought I would, but I can also look back and know I did some pretty good things," Prior declared.
