Former England wicketkeeper-batsman Matt Prior has responded to Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon’s warning that the hosts are set on ending the careers of a few of their opponents like they did in 2013-’14.
Prior was dropped for the last two Tests of that series in Australia which England lost 5-0. He wasn’t the only one on the chopping block as coach Andy Flower and batsman Joe Root were also given the boot. Jonathan Trott was sent home with stress-related illness after the first Test, while Graeme Swann abruptly retired mid-series.
“Leading into Perth we knew... Matt Prior wanted to fly home before the game started and he was one of the senior players,” Lyon had said. “He was scared. It’s four years ago. I think he’s all right now.”
Prior took to Twitter to respond to Lyon’s barbs, saying the off-spinner’s words could come back to bite him. The 35-year-old denied that he wanted to get on a plane home during the 2013-’14 series, saying that Lyon had embarrassed himself by implying so.
“I sincerely hope you’re not part of a losing Australia team on home soil, Nathan Lyon,” Prior wrote on Twitter, before reminding the Australian of England’s 3-1 win in the 2010-’11 Ashes. You want to end careers? Just make sure its not yours that ends,” he added.
Last time someone spouted a whole load of BS about me I stayed quiet not this time.To be clear I may have been playing badly fair enough but there was no way I was getting on a plane home. You’ve embarrassed yourself @NathLyon421 & this game has a funny way of biting back.
— Matt Prior (@MattPrior13) November 21, 2017
I sincerely hope you’re not part of a losing @CricketAus team on home soil @NathLyon421. I still remember being sat on the outfield at the SCG after winning 3-1 while your press&fans were tearing into the Oz players. You want to end careers? Just make sure its not yours that ends
— Matt Prior (@MattPrior13) November 21, 2017
“I think Nathan Lyon has got other things to worry about without thinking about me,” Prior was quoted as saying by The Telegraph. “I hope the first Test goes really well for him because otherwise I’d suggest he’s concentrating on the wrong things.”
England are steeled for a sledging war in the Ashes series with suspended Ben Stokes the expected focus of Australia’s barbs. Stokes, the vice-captain and star all-rounder, is not among the touring party. He remains under investigation after being arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm following an incident outside a Bristol nightclub in September.
Feisty opening batsman David Warner has already voiced his desire to ramp up his trademark on-field aggression in the coming series. “The history, the pride that is at stake. As soon as you step on that line it’s war,” Warner told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation last month, when asked what the Ashes meant to him.
With inputs from AFP