Former England wicket-keeper batsman Matt Prior believes that winning a Test series in India is bigger and tougher than winning the Ashes. He further adds that although the Ashes has all the hype around it, winning in India requires a lot more attrition.
“It’s certainly right up there. The Ashes gets all the publicity and everything that goes with it but India is an equally tough – if not tougher – place to go and win a series. It might even pip it for me: we won in Australia [in 2010-11] for the first time in 25 years but we won in India for the first time in 28,” Matt Prior told ESPNCricinfo.
Prior was part of the England squad that had a historic Test series win in India in 2012. It was after 28 years that the visitors had won a Test series in India.
“I remember coming in, taking my kit off, and before I knew it, I was asleep. I was just so drained from the whole experience. That’s why you do it, and that’s what made it such a good victory (in 2012). It is so mentally and physically draining to get a result out there (in India). To go there and be successful is a real privilege [so] it was a very proud moment in all of our careers,” he added.
Prior also said that wicket-keeping in India is a real challenge with the heat and humidity, and can be physically very draining.
It’s obviously very hot and very humid, so there’s a huge physical drain that you have to be prepared for. And then mentally it’s very draining.
“For players who have grown up in England, you’re used to the ball swinging and seaming, and leaving on length and in the channel, but your whole game-plan has to change, whether that’s for batsmen, bowlers, wicketkeepers, or even fielders,” Prior added.
