Matt Prior has dismissed suggestions his England career is over and has targeted April's series in the West Indies for his return from a long-standing Achilles problem.
The wicketkeeper will have surgery next month on the injury that has dogged him for two years and flared up in the home series against India, forcing him to step aside after England lost the second Test last month.
Many wrote off the right-hander because of the success of his replacement Jos Buttler, who scored 200 in three innings as England won the remaining Tests to claim the series 3-1.
“I’m only 32 and everyone talks about you like that’s it, it’s the end,” Prior said. “People seem to forget very quickly what you have given in the past, and that actually add something to the team at one point. That’s sport – it moves on very quickly, and I accept that.
“I’m hoping by January to be as physically fit as I have ever been, and then it’s a case of getting some cricket under my belt and getting to the levels I expect of myself and proving to the selectors that I am playing good cricket.”
England play three Tests in Antigua, Grenada and Barbados in April after a one-day programme, which concludes with the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand at the start of next year. Prior, who is also recovering from hand and quad muscle injuries, said the timing of the ailments had been good, coinciding with a break in the Test calendar, but acknowledged the strong form of Buttler.
“If I have to go as a No 2 batter-wicketkeeper then so be it. I’m more than happy to do that,” he said. “The minute Jos went in the team I’m only ever there to help and I sent him a message to say if you need anything. But at the moment he is going great guns so I leave him to it obviously.
“But it’s a funny old game and things turn around very quickly.”
Prior has averaged over 40 and taken 243 catches in 79 Tests since making his debut against the West Indies in 2007.
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