Prior relishes his surprise World Cup challenge

Prior was the surprise selection in Wednesday’s 15-man squad when, despite having not played a one-day international for almost a year, he was named ahead of fellow wicketkeeper Steven Davies.

The Ashes winner has flown to Hobart to rejoin the squad and is set to go straight into the team for the second match of the series against Australia.

He is also set to take over Davies’ vacated place at the top of the order – a position he has not filled for England since November 2008.

But the right-hander believes the role is best suited to his hard-hitting style and is looking forward to facing the new ball alongside skipper Andrew Strauss.

“It’s the role that I enjoy and one that I want to play in oneday cricket,” he said.

“I think Strauss and I will form a pretty good partnership.

“We get on very well and run well between the wickets so hopefully we can get the team off to a good start.”

Prior was used at the top of England’s order in 27 of his first 29 one-day internationals, but enjoyed only moderate success averaging 25.08.

However, the 28-year-old, who has made a total of 55 ODI appearances, believes the experience he has gained since then will ensure a better return.

"I think my batting has come along a huge amount,"

he added.

"I think I’m a very different player to the guy that opened the batting for England in one-day cricket however many years ago.

"It wasn’t the getting the starts that was the problem or getting through a new ball that might be swinging.

"I always seem to get off to good starts, so it was probably just having that experience that I didn’t have at the time to then go on and make that match-winning score.

"You look at Shane Watson in the last game getting 161 - it’s a match-winning total.

"Those are the types of innings that all batsmen are looking to get and realising that their 40s, 50s and 60s don’t win games.

"That’s certainly what I’ll be trying to do. First and foremost you’ve got to get in and get off to that start.

"Once I do that I will very much be looking forward to going on and making that big score."

The Sussex gloveman bridled at suggestions that he might feel lucky to get the call, after Davies had seemingly been the man to get the nod.

Davies had been trusted with the gloves for England’s past six one-day internationals, while he was the only wicketkeeper chosen for the current series in Australia.

But after team director Andy Flower revealed Prior had been chosen because of his ability on the slower subcontinental wickets, he added: “No I don’t (feel lucky) at all to be honest.

“I’ve put a lot of hard work into my one-day game and it hasn’t just happened overnight. It isn’t a case of ’oh yeah let’s get him in’, there’s obviously reasons why I am here.

“People on the outside don’t see the work you put in behind closed doors. They don’t see the work you do, the extra hours, the extra training.

“I’ve been in positions before where I’ve done okay and I’ve been dropped. That’s international sport.

“It’s now down to performing and performing well.

That’s now my job.”

Prior admitted he did feel for his fellow gloveman Davies, who returns to the role of reserve after also filling that position during this winter’s historic Ashes success.

“Davies and I have worked a lot together, we’re in the keepers’ union and we have been on this whole trip,’’ he said. “We go a long way back.

I think we both know that we are both pushing for places, we are pushing for the same place.

“All you can do is work your best and try your best to perform and whoever gets the nod on the day, fair play to them.

“It was only a short while back I was shaking his hand and saying well done to him.

“It works that way, it’s international sport. It’s cut throat at times but everyone has been through it.”

Hussey doubt

STAND-IN captain Michael Clarke has admitted Australia may be reluctant to risk taking injured batsman Mike Hussey to the World Cup.

Hussey is battling to be fit for the tournament, which begins next month, after undergoing surgery on a hamstring injury earlier this week.

The 35-year-old faces an intense rehabilitation programme in the coming weeks with Cricket Australia admitting they may not know a possible return date for another three weeks.

If that was the case, Hussey’s availability would not be known until just before Australia are due to leave for the subcontinent on February 9, with two practice games to follow before their World Cup opener against Zimbabwe on February 21.

“I guess the concern is that we’re trying to get the skipper as fit as possible also,” Clarke said.

“Hopefully he will be able to take part in our two practice games and the selectors will have to weigh up if can we take Huss as well knowing he might not be fit for those first couple of practice games.

“We’ll know more in time. I think the main thing right now is that Huss does everything in his power to make it heal.”