HOME MATTHEW PRIOR
MATTHEW IS SELECTED TO PLAY
IN HIS FIRST COMPETITIVE FIRST CLASS MATCH
- When the team sheet goes up in the Sussex
County Cricket Club it will show the name of MATTHEW
PRIOR in the First Team
- Matthew was clearly proud as
we briefly discussed his progress in recent days
- He feels that he has had some good luck to be selected for
the 1st team in the first County match of the League season.
- My immediate reaction to his success was to congratulate
him and then to ask after Nicholas Wilton
- The County Club has a very difficult problem because both
keepers are at the beginning of their professional careers. Nicholas,
being the senior, may well have expected to have been given the
keeper spot to start the season.
- I hope that the County Club have the means to keep both keepers
involved and advised. I am sure that if I had just been dropped
and replaced by a younger player with no County experience I
would need a great deal of consoling, but also - because of my
young age - I would need friendly, positive counselling to map
my way forward.
- I had not envisaged Matthew
at this early stage of making such a break through and saw his
own ambition - to get a regular place in the one day side- far
more within the bounds of possiblity.
- That he has been selected is tremendous and it can be put
down to his natural ability, his attitude and personal drive,
and LUCK.
- How fortunate he was not to be selected for the England Under
19 side to go abroad and to remain under the watchful eye of
Keith Greenfield at the County Ground. It must be very nice play
in foreign countries during the winter but you do not create
an impression on a Club from a distance.
- How fortunate he was to be given not out having been bowled
from a no ball whilst on tour in Grenada and go on to make a
match winning 50.
- How fortunate that he has a visible sign of determination
in his cricket.
- How fortunate that he is able to grow the signs of a cricketer's
stubble !!
- He now has to bridge the gap between school cricket and professional
cricket. It is not easy as the recent University matches versus
County show. Durham University all out for 67. There are several
Durham University players who Matthew
has played alongside in recent years. They struggled.
- This site will continue to monitor Matthew's
progress but , at the same time, will take a positive attitude
towards the progress of Nicholas Wilton. We hope that he fights
for his place and forces his way back into contention. I am sure
that the old pros are saying competition is good for you , but
I hope that the two players manage to maintain a close friendship
as they have to train and learn together.
- The County Club hopefully see these two young players in
need of " care and attention".
- Matthew is hoping to
bat about number 8 in the team.
- The week is going to be exciting - one way or another
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