Prior 'hunted mercilessly' by media

mattprior

Having missed the final two Tests of the most recent Ashes series in Australia, Prior was recalled for the series with Sri Lanka and India, but struggled to shine.

Prior hit 86 in his first game back, but managed just 93 runs in his following six innings before announcing on Monday following the 95-run defeat against India at Lord's that he will now take a break from cricket to recover from Achilles, quad and hand injuries that have dogged him this year.

Robinson, who has coached Prior since 2005 at Sussex, believes the 32-year-old has been harshly treated by his critics

"The media have hunted him mercilessly and made his position and Alastair Cook's job difficult for any player," Robinson told BBC Radio Sussex. 

"With Matt carrying injuries it probably got a bit too much and he has done the right thing to pull himself out.

"Everybody scrutinises every move he does, it almost makes it impossible for him to do his job, as it is for the England captain. Every move they make is under enormous pressure.

"He didn't go in with the best health, but Matt is a warrior, he is a tough guy and for him to say enough is enough, then he must be hurting.

"The amount of Test matches back-to-back took a toll on him and it was getting increasingly difficult.

"He can take stock of himself, do what he needs to do on his Achilles and get himself ready to properly put his name in the ring.

"He is just 32, some of the stuff being said and written about him, the obituaries and that type of thing, is a bit premature. He has a lot of international cricket left in him."

Jos Buttler has been called-up in place of wicketkeeper Prior for the third Test with India in Southampton, with the Lancashire man set for his debut when the match begins on Sunday.

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