If the wicketkeeper is the heartbeat of a cricket team, then England need a cardiologist.
Matt Prior, who was regarded as the world’s best keeper-batsmen at the start of England’s summer, was donned England’s Cricketer of the Year as the northern Ashes begun.
But since then, he has had one of the most torrid cricketing years since Geraint Jones in the 2006/2007 Ashes series, and it’s costing his team badly.
His dismissal on the third day in Perth was the shot of a man who does not know his cricket. Sure, he was batting with the tail, but this England tail has helped Prior to seven exciting Test centuries in his illustrious career.
Still trailing by plenty, Prior flung hideously outside off stump to Peter Siddle’s deliver outside off stump. The fine edge was snaffled easily by his opposite number.
To compound Prior’s misery, his day behind the stumps was considerably worse than his performance in front of them as he let through eight byes, missed two stumpings off the batting of David Warner, and didn’t get anywhere near a Chris Rogers edge that flew between him and Alastair Cook.
He also dropped a tough chance off the bowling of Graeme Swann.
The first missed stumping occurred when Warner was on 12, and was one of the simpler offering that he would have received with the gloves in his career. Warner finished the day with 112.
Now it must be said that no one is perfect, and even the best are allowed a bad day at the office, but Prior’s bad day has turned into an epic with no end in sight. Since the start of the northern Ashes, prior has averaged a deplorable 17.83 in Tests.
This is not an acceptable return in the age of batsman first, keeper second.
Many an English fan could have been forgiven for thinking the worst was behind him after he scored 69 in Adelaide last week, but the context of that innings was that Prior was batting on one of the world’s flattest wickets, and in a situation where he had absolutely no chance of saving the game.
Essentially, he was batting for nothing.
When it has counted, Prior has failed. He failed in Brisbane in the middle of two batting collapses, he failed in Adelaide at the wrath of Mitchell Johnson, and he failed in Perth because he was trying to pull a ball that should have raced to point.
It’s unfortunate for Prior that his failures have coincided with him team on the brink of losing the Ashes, in much the same way that Shane Watson’s inept statistics are being, for the most part, overlooked.
But that’s why the keeper is considered the lifeblood of a cricket team, because as his stocks rise and fall, so do his team’s.
It would be lax, however, to suggest that Prior is the reason that England are losing this series. James Anderson, Kevin Pietersen, Alastair Cook and Graeme Swann are all equally responsible. But it’s been the ease with which Prior’s feathers have been ruffled that is the cause for the greatest concern.
England need to make changes for the Boxing Day Test, and with Jonny Bairstow scoring a century for the English Performance Programme last week, Prior is most definitely in the firing line.
There is still a chance that Prior could prove me wrong, and if he can guide his side to a miraculous draw over the next two days then he deserves to see out the series. But if he doesn’t, and he probably won’t, then Bairstow should be given a chance come Boxing Day.
Steven McBain
Roar Guru
JB, trying to figure out if I agree with you or not and still not sure! It's a very old cliche about form and class and therefore probably has some merit. But I think that Prior has had an easy ride for a while in a winning team. It's fine coming in at 350/5 all the time and slapping it around but your mettle is shown coming in at 100/5 and digging in and turning it around. He's not looked good when the top order have been short of runs.
Steven McBain
Roar Guru
It's very hard to know what to say about Prior's situation. On form he doesn't deserve to be anywhere near the side. However, what comes next? Bairstow can keep yes but he's not been good enough to keep his place in the side on the basis of his batting and his keeping is not test standard, so that is not the answer on either account. Prior's been a great servant but he's suffered as many England players do from receving the plaudits. All down hill since that player of the year award. He deserves to be dropped in my opinion but what the option is I don't really know. So what to do..........
Silver_Sovereign
Guest
Haddin hadn't performed for a number of series and deserved the criticism. People like you with the I told you so comments are coming out of the woodwork thick and fast. Same with all these sudden Johnson supporters. Certainly don't remember this many defenders before the first test.
trev
Guest
De Villiers is clearly the best in terms of batting. Dhoni is a sensational ODI player and a real leader of men, but BJ Watling might be the best overall - even Steyn rated him when Saf destroyed the Kiwi batting (averages 48 from 11 tests as a keeper) http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/38924.html?class=1;filter=advanced;keeper=1;orderby=default;template=results;type=allround
trev
Guest
His series-saving century against New Zealand was one of the greatest knocks ever by a keeper (although a lucky one - he was bowled twice but the bails didn't fall off). Since then he hasn't scored a run (admittedly against Boult, Southee and the Aussie boys) and can't catch a cold. He was the top wk/batsman but on form would rate below (in this order) ABDV Watling Dhoni Haddin
Frankie Hughes
Guest
Prior averages under 30 against Australia. Under 35 against South Africa. He's a minnow basher at best. Two hundreds against West Indies. One against New Zealand. One against post Murali Sri Lanka.
Tom Syrmas
Roar Rookie
If, and that's a big if, England lose this series 5-0, they will need to make changes. Based on his performance so far, it's hard to see how they can offer Prior and olive branch. As I said, unless he scores big in his second innings in this test, it's hard to see how they can justify his presence in Melbourne.
Tom Syrmas
Roar Rookie
It's fair to say that Haddin has been one of the differences in the series. Australia's batting has been as poor as England's during moments of this series, but Haddin has dug in and rescued his side, as opposed to Prior just hurling his bat at anything and getting out.
Tom Syrmas
Roar Rookie
Thanks Eddy. Unless the likes of Pietersen and Prior score a bag of runs in the second dig, I think they will both be gone. The only change I would make in your side is Panesar in for Swann.
fadida
Guest
Drop him then! 8 of those have been against an excellent Aussie attack though....
Frankie Hughes
Guest
Sangakkara played as wicketkeeper in 48 Test matches. 38 of those 48 Tests where played in Asia. Sangakkara scored 7 Test hundreds as keeper but none outside Asia. His batting average as keeper, outside Asia, is a rather ordinary 25.20 with only 3 fifties in 25 innings
Eddy Bramley
Roar Pro
Yea but I'm sure Kumar ventured out of Sr Lanka for a few knocks Frankie , am I right?
JB
Guest
I'd back Prior to return to form, It looks like the english team as a unit were all under done coming here. I'm sure there side will learn from this series and be better for it. Prior has scored some incredibly important runs, his striking can take games away from teams and his grit has many times kept England in contests when they were miles behind. I'd give him time, he is running out of chances though. You can lose form but not class.
Frankie Hughes
Guest
Neither Read or Foster can bat a 7 in a Test match. Davies is a top class batsman And yes I'm bias to Surrey
Disco
Roar Guru
Davies is decent. But not as good as Foster and Read.
Frankie Hughes
Guest
Prior's average in his last 10 Tests is 17.
fadida
Guest
Prior has proven himself over a number of years. Not a great player but a good one. 3 poor tests shouldn't undo his recent performances and I expect the English selectors won't panic and dump him. It's a tough life for the modern sportsman. Fail a couple of times and you're gone. Unless your name is Shane Watson who is strangely just the opposite..........
Frankie Hughes
Guest
Kieswetter is a dreadful wicketkeeper. Personally for me Steve Davies of Surrey is the best keeper batsman is England.
marfis
Guest
I hope the turkey who bagged Hadds prior to the fist Test has got over the indigestion of the huge amount of humble pie he would have had to have eaten by now. Hadds is the best keeper/batsman that we've got and you know the rule regarding possession? It's true.
Frankie Hughes
Guest
You know pitches in Sri Lanka are similar to strips of concrete yeah mate? When Sangakkara plays a a pure batsman, his average in Sri Lanka is something like 75