Matt Prior

Currently at the peak of his powers, Matt Prior is a delight to watch, attacking and defending with ease and always up for a tough grind

All hail England's fortunate MVP

Matt Prior's unbeaten hundred in Auckland put the seal on a magnificent series for him, with bat and gloves, and has rightly given him a strong claim to being the best in the world at his role.

It may not have been pretty, it may not have been assured and it may have owed rather more to fortune than they would have liked, but England's last pair somehow clung on to seal a draw on the final day of the Test series against New Zealand in Auckland

Matt Prior is adamant that England are capable of recovering from another poor batting display to still emerge with a series win against New Zealand

Matt Prior's strength is his ability to play in any situation, and according to the needs of his team. His commitment to England's cause cannot be doubted

Shane Bond, the New Zealand bowling coach, said it had yet to be decided which of his bowlers will draw the short straw of needing to bowl into the wind at the Basin Reserve

Matt Prior believes the situation has given the warm-up match added value that will aid preparations for Dunedin

Matt Prior has said the ECB may be forced to reconsider its international schedule with a view to allowing England players more opportunity to appear in the IP

Problems for Kieswetter and Bairstow bring opportunity for Buttler just eight games ahead of the Champions Trophy

ESPNcricinfo assesses the performances of the England players who helped them win a series in India for the first time since 1984-85

It is a mark of the expectations England's captain has of himself that even 190 didn't feel like enough. Still, his team never let control of the match slip

England's slide from No. 1 has gathered pace and they have serious questions ahead of the second Test

India went 1-0 up in the Test series with three to play when they rolled over England on the final day at Motera

The efforts of the England captain, with perhaps his finest innings, alongside Matt Prior may not save the opening Test but they will give the team belief for the rest of the series

ESPNcricinfo presents the plays of the day from the fourth day in Ahmedabad

Alastair Cook batted throughout the fourth day, taking his innings 501 minutes, in an outstanding show of patience and resilience

Matt Prior admitted England had endured "a bit of a shocker" as they sunk to 191 all out in their first innings in Ahmedabad

They may not have enjoyed the preparation they hoped for against spin bowling but England go into the first Test against India confident, composed and, most of all, united.