Prior: I have let people down

Wicketkeeper-batsman Matt Prior has expressed a semblance of guilt, after England collapsed to an eight-wicket defeat – and four-nil series deficit – on day four of the fourth and final Ashes Test on Sunday.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Matt Prior has expressed a semblance of guilt, after England collapsed to an eight-wicket defeat – and four-nil series deficit – on day four of the fourth and final Ashes Test on Sunday.

Prior managed a mere 107 runs in six innings, including two ducks, in the opening three matches of the five-fixture affair. The poor stretch of form saw him dropped for the penultimate fixture.

"My hunger to play for England and get back in the team is as high as it has ever been," Prior wrote in a column for the <i>Sunday Telegraph</i>.

"There has been a lot of talk about whether that is it for me and England will move on but I am only 31 years old and still have a lot of cricket left to play.

"The disappointing aspect for me is that I feel like I have let people down. In particular, I have let Alastair Cook down as captain and Graham Gooch as batting coach.

"In a series like this you need senior players to stand up and make contributions. It is the least I expect from myself, but I have not been able to do it and for me that is the toughest thing of all."

Vice-captain Prior was replaced by the inexperienced Jonny Bairstow in the XI. Bairstow didn't fare very well with the bat, dismissed for 10 and 21, but proved sound as a wicketkeeeper – and snared six catches.

"At no stage do I want to be selected by England on reputation. You have to perform to play for your country and I was not doing that," added Prior.

"The hurt and heartache has not been felt over the past few days after learning on Christmas Day I would be dropped, it has been endured over the past several months when I have not performed for England. That has been killing me."

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