Matt Prior chases winning habit
Matt Prior wants England to start the Ashes tour with a warm-up victory over Western Australia to build momentum for the Test series
ESPNcricinfo staff
03-Nov-2010
Matt Prior: "To be thrown in the deep end is a good thing" • Getty Images
The wicketkeeper Matt Prior wants England to start the Ashes tour with a warm-up victory over Western Australia to build momentum for the Test series. The tourists open their trip with a three-day game in Perth on Friday, one of three matches before the start of the main event at the Gabba.
While defending the Ashes is the priority, Prior said the squad's first goal was an early victory. "It is a first-class game and we will treat that match as a first-class game, very seriously," Prior said in Perth. "Winning is a habit and the quicker you can get into the habit the better."
England are looking for their first Ashes victory in Australia since 1986-87 and have given themselves plenty of time to acclimatise. Graeme Swann, the offspinner who hurt his thumb in the nets, is the only doubt for the match against Western Australia, who will be led by Marcus North.
The pitches in Perth have excited the bowlers with their bounce and Prior said it was an ideal way to settle into the Australian environment, even though they won't be back at the WACA until the third Test. "To be thrown in the deep end is a good thing," he said. "You get thrown in the deep end and work backwards, which is better than taking it easy and then being given a shock."
Prior enjoyed personal success amid England's successful run at home this summer averaging more than 50, batting at No. 7, in six Tests against Bangladesh and Pakistan. But he insisted that it was important not to let praise for his contributions with both bat and gloves distract him from what is an ongoing, and taxing, role. "Any time you get compliments from your peers like that is a great moment and obviously makes you feel good," he said. "But it's not necessarily anything you can listen to."
"I've got to make sure I score the runs. It's going to be a very important role in that late middle order, and we're going to have to knuckle down and get some runs this tour. I'm thoroughly looking forward to that and the potential responsibility of maybe batting with a few of the guys down the order. That is a challenge in itself and one I really enjoy."