Tuesday 22 July 2014 12:26, UK
England wicketkeeper Matt Prior is to take an immediate break from all forms of cricket due to injury.
The Sussex player made the announcement just hours after England had lost the second Test to India at Lord's on Monday.
Prior has been carrying a few injuries and is expected to have surgery on an ongoing Achilles problem. He is also suffering from injuries to a right quad and right hand.
A statement from the 32-year-old reads: “I'm not doing justice to myself and more importantly the team and that is what matters first and foremost.
“I tore my quad before the first Test and my right hand has been beaten to a pulp but the main issue is the Achilles.
“Now we have the time, I want to be pro-active about how we deal with it so I imagine that I'll have an operation.
“I've always said as long as I can do my job I will manage the pain and get on with it but it has now got to the point where I can't do my job to the level I expect of myself.”
Prior, who has 79 Test caps, added: “It is a huge decision and not one I've taken lightly because I could have played my last game.
“Playing for England is the greatest honour you can have in the game and that is my motivation to come back and try and play again in the best possible condition.
“I've made my decision for the good of the team and whoever comes in I genuinely wish them the best of luck.”
Jos Buttler is his most likely replacement for the third Test which starts in Southampton on Sunday.
And speaking on Sky Sports, Prior made it clear that this is not the end of his career as he still harbours ambitions to represent his country again: “I have hopes of playing for England.
I will do my utmost to get fit, raring and ready to go at the back end of the winter and be ready for next summer.
“I will do my utmost to get fit, raring and ready to go at the back end of the winter and be ready for next summer.
“But I can’t look too far ahead. I don’t believe I could perform right now for England with the injuries I am carrying.
“I have fought injuries for most of the summer and, up until now, it has been manageable. But in this game (at Lord's) I haven’t been able to perform to level I expect and I’ve made the right decision.”
On Monday, Prior was caught by Vijay after hooking Ishant Sharma while on 12, as England slipped to a 95-run defeat on day five of five, with India taking a 1-0 series lead.
