Prior wins MCC Spirit of Cricket Award

Date released: 1 October 2008

Sussex and England wicket-keeper Matt Prior won the MCC Spirit of Cricket Award at the NatWest PCA Awards 2008 held on Monday night.

The honour, given for a ‘champagne moment’ from the season, was awarded to Prior for his reaction to Essex’s Graham Napier’s record-breaking Twenty20 Cup innings against Sussex.

Prior had the best view in the house at Chelmsford as Napier destroyed Sussex’s attack, scoring 158 off just 58 balls, including a record 16 sixes.

When the Essex man reached 150, Prior congratulated him with a bear hug, despite his side facing certain defeat.

Signing on: Prior helps out at an MCC Spirit of Cricket camp in Kent As well as exemplifying the Spirit of Cricket on the pitch, Prior has done his bit off the field too - starring at an MCC Spirit of Cricket Challenge Summer Camp in Kent in August.

Taking time off from his international duties, Prior coached, answered questions and signed autographs for the 140 local children at the camp in Beckenham.

Exemplary conduct

John Stephenson, MCC Head of Cricket said: "In the heat of the battle, taking the time out to congratulate an opponent on an excellent performance typifies the Spirit of Cricket at its best.

Stephenson: 'Prior sets example for youngsters' "It’s clear that young players copy what they see the internationals doing on television - both in how they play and how they conduct themselves.

"The way the children at the MCC Spirit of Cricket Challenge Summer Camp responded to Matt shows that he’s a good role model for youngsters.

"His exemplary conduct in this Sussex match will further serve as an appropriate example to those learning the game."

Since it was enshrined into the Laws of Cricket in 2000, the Spirit of Cricket has been embraced by players at all levels of the game, from the Indian Premier League to MCC’s grass-roots scheme across England and Wales.

Winning the MCC Spirit of Cricket Moment at the PCA Awards was a fitting end to a very productive season for the Sussex wicket-keeper.

Having been dropped from the England team in the new year, Prior, a former MCC Tourist (to Greece in 2003) responded in style, scoring runs and taking catches for his county.

His form warranted an England recall for the South Africa ODI series where he cemented his place as the country’s number one glovesman in the shorter form of the game.

Prior has subsequently been selected for the England Test and ODI tours of India next month.