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Cricket

Prior targeting winter tours for England comeback

10/04/2008

Axed wicketkeeper Matt Prior has admitted he is unlikely to depose incumbent Tim Ambrose from the England team before the next away tour in the winter.

Prior was dropped by head coach Peter Moores for the most recent tour to New Zealand after some underwhelming performances behind the stumps towards the end of 2007 in Sri Lanka.

Ambrose was chosen ahead of Prior for the series against the Black Caps and looks set to keep his spot after a 2-1 victory down under.

And while Sussex gloveman Prior has not yet given up hope of returning to the international fold he is under no illusions that it will take time - and possibly the entire English domestic season - to win back favour with the selectors.

"Breaking back into the England team is something that occupies my mind but I don't think it is realistic to be worrying about it this summer," Prior said.

"Realistically my goal is to get on a tour next winter and the only way I am going to do that is by performing well in the games that I am playing."

Ambrose is a former team-mate of Prior at Sussex, and the ten-Test veteran believes having competition from 25-year-old Ambrose can only help his game improve.

"The thing about Tim and I, when we were at Sussex, was that there was big rivalry and we always said to each other that, plain and simple, whoever was playing the best should play," Prior explained.

"But we can help each other get better and better.

"He has got the gloves at the moment and I shall be working very, very hard to keeping pushing him and make sure he knows I'm still around."