Prior on his guard ahead of Windies Test

Matt Prior
16 May 2012

Matt Prior is adamant there will be no room for complacency as England set out to restate their credentials as Test cricket's number one team against West Indies at Lord's.

A tougher examination of England's claim on top spot appears to lie in wait later this summer, in the shape of South Africa - currently their closest pursuers in the ICC tables. West Indies languish down at seventh in the rankings and are perceived to be a team with a useful attack but much to prove with the bat - world number one Shivnarine Chanderpaul apart.

"This is a very tough series in its own right," said Prior. "I think if you get complacent or take things easy in Test cricket, or international sport in general, you get bitten pretty quickly. There's no room for that in our dressing room."

Prior himself is returning to the scene, and against the same opponents, of his own century on Test debut five years ago, and added: "It's fantastic to be back at Lord's. It's always a magical place to come.

"This first series of the summer will be a tough prospect.

"We had a tricky winter. But we came out on top [against Sri Lanka] in Colombo - which was a fantastic effort - and we're back in our home conditions now.

"The challenges we faced in the winter - spin on the sub-continent - are less likely here.

"It was obviously a tough winter. But that win [to level the series in Sri Lanka] was crucial - to come out with that win just set us off on the right road going into the summer, and gave us a lot of confidence.

"We have learned lessons, and we are going forward. We are a good team, but we do still have some huge improvements to make.

"It's very important we look forward. We've performed very well over the last couple of years with bat and ball, and I see no reason why we shouldn't continue that."

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