HOME      MATTHEW PRIOR

• We are about half way through the season . At this stage I did envisage asking questions relevant to progressing from the County 2nd X1 to a possible place in the First Team squad but ever since the first match of the season when Matthew was selected for the First Team all prepared questions have been abandoned.
• I concluded in early May, 2001 that Matthew would probably be given a run in the First team and ended my last article with: For the next few games I suspect that Matthew can now relax and settle in to a First Class career.
• I am sure that he will make the most of his opportunity.
  
• I began to follow Matthew to try and evaluate for other young hopefuls how a young player moved from our County youth programme to the ranks of professional cricketer. From my viewpoint I am quite convinced that, in Matthew's case, the County Club have been totally supportive and have acted in his every interest.

1. He has had some ducks
2. He has dropped a sitter
3. He has had bruised hands
4. He has felt absolutely shattered
5. His concentration has lapsed
6. He has had the crowd in a niggling mood
7. He uses a blunt razor when shaving

• Despite all of this the Club has continued to select him.
• The decision to play Matthew in the first place was probably based on several factors two of which were a). his batting potential b). his strength of character.
• There was no obvious reason for Nicholas Wilton at the end of last season to see himself out of the First Team side for at least the first half of the season. He was keeping well. He had gained a lot of experience as an England Under 19 player in the World Cup and the the new boy - Matthew Prior - had not been selected for the England Under 19 overseas tour. However Nicholas , in contrast to Matthew, may be seen by some as a quieter more gentle character with some problems revealed when batting.
• Thus Matthew was given the nod over Nicholas who has responded exceptionally well. His( Nicholas' ) keeping, I do not think, has been in doubt and now he has made 2 centuries - one at Club level and 130 for the County 2nd X1.
• A Club Life Member has made the point that the runs were made at a much lower level. The more important point is the confidence boost that Nicholas will have gained by these scores. Without the competition for a keeping place it may well be that Nicholas would not have made that enormous step up in the quality of his batting.
• The 2nd X1 are not achieving great results at present so it is very interesting to see that the keeper- N. Wilton- is very close to the top of the batting averages.
• Nicholas's only problem is that Matthew has also made two crucial scores- 42 at Horsham and 66 at Arundel.
• Both of these knocks were essential elements in his progress.
• In sport one makes one's own good fortune. Matthew had the good luck to be batting with his skipper, Chris Adams making a huge 192. It must have been good for Matthew's confidence and one can just imagine the mid wicket conversation.
  " I took my coaching certificate just before Christmas, skipper. I do feel that next time you hit a 6 you should try to get that front foot nearer the line of the delivery........ "
  "Thank you , Matthew. Such good advice will ensure your selection for the next match"
• Clearly it is going well for Matthew. He may be selected for England Under 19 - a selection which can be viewed as a retrograde step for a young professional - then Nicholas will have the chance to make his case in the First Eleven.
• Off the cricket field his luck holds just as well. How fortunate to have a car which has broken down and to be " lent" one in its place.
• July, August and September - what does the future hold for both young keepers ? In the long term I fear that as only one place is available one of our two keepers will move from the Club. We lost Shaun Humphries in such a manner and despite all the County Club efforts I foresee a similar scenario on the horizon.
• The problem will then be repeated as another of our England young keepers - Andrew Hodd - puts his name forward for contention.
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