Anyway, regarding Prior, I think some people are over-reacting a tad, but I also think some are failing to credit him at all for fear of him being another Jones. The innings itself doesn't quite prove as much as some are making out, however the fact that it was similar to that of another player who turned out to be a failure isn't exactly a reason to play it down. I'm quite sure, as much as it was a good time for Prior to come in, that Richard, Grecian and the like did not expect him to score a century. He did anyway and though (and in fine style, I must add), so I'll not sit her and read about how it means nothing because he was expected to do so or, even more ridiculously, because Jones scored a hundred in similar circmstances early in his career. Firstly, one must realise that Jones has greatly underachieved with the bat rather than just being rubbish and secondly, one must realise that Prior is a much more accomplished batsman at first class level anyway - as well as appearing to have better footwork and shot selection among other things. The similarities between the innings are no real reason to play it down, IMO, and as much as it wasn't a particularly tough time to come in, he did all expected of him and thensome.
Myself, well, I've been quietly confident about Prior's batting for a little while and have actually called for his selection a few times (or, at very least, inquired about his keeping and brough him up a few times). His first class record, while nothing that screams "test class specialist batsman" is more than good enough to suggest he'll be a good #7 batsman. And even though he failed by-and-large, and even though it was an ODI series, Prior's stint opening in Pakistan actually impressed me. While he clearly wasn't ODI standard as a specialist batsman at the time, he didn't look that far off it - he looked like a batsman while out there, just not quite the finished article. I'm sure the selectors have held a similar opinion of his batting as well given how he was selected in that series, and also his first class record - it's his keeping that is the concern and even if he goes on to score 250* tomorrow, that concern will remain. I don't think I've seen him keep, and if I did I can't remember it, but as a reluctant wicket keeper, and as the selectors haven't chosen him despite good first class batting displays, I'd take a guess to say it's not of the greatest quality.
