Prior ready to return for England

LONDON—England could pick Matt Prior as the sole wicket-keeper for the Tests in Sri Lanka when the squad is announced on Friday. Prior played all summer for England before breaking a thumb and missing the one-day series in Sri Lanka, but the Sussex man has now returned to fitness.
Spinner Graeme Swann seems certain to be named after impressing in the 3-2 one-day series triumph in Sri Lanka. But there will be a tough decision whether to keep opener Andrew Strauss. The squad, for three Tests starting 1 December, will be named on Friday at 1130 BST.
Despite speculation about a recall for the 38-year-old Mark Ramprakash, BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew said the most obvious alternatives for Strauss would be Owais Shah and Ravi Bopara.
Bopara’s all-round claims are strengthened by the absence of Andrew Flintoff, while Shah played a match-winning innings of 82 in the second one-day international in Dambulla. Though no longer part of the one-day squad, Strauss did retain his central contract in September despite a year of indifferent form.
So if the selectors do intend to do without him, they would be asked to explain their reasoning. Despite England’s readiness to show their continued faith in Prior, the wicket-keeper will be keen to impress in the Test matches.
He started brilliantly on his Test debut with a century at Lord’s against West Indies, but by the end of August both his glovework and batting had tailed off.
Three other wicket-keepers - Tim Ambrose, Steve Davies and Phil Mustard, who played in the Sri Lanka one-dayers - will be in India as part of the development squad should a back-up be needed. The selectors have said any one of the 16 in India could be named, and Stuart Broad could be one to make the step-up.
He is gaining a considerable reputation on the international circuit following some eye-catching displays and is finally in line to make his Test debut. Importantly, his style of bowling is an important bridge between the raw pace of Steve Harmison and the swing of Matthew Hoggard, James Anderson and Ryan Sidebottom.
Possible England Test party for Sri Lanka: M Vaughan (capt), A Cook, K Pietersen, P Collingwood, I Bell, O Shah, R Bopara, M Prior (w/k), R Sidebottom, S Harmison, M Panesar, G Swann, M Hoggard, J Anderson, S Broad. —Agencies