Matt Prior points ‘huge problem’ as ECB prepare to launch high-performance review into Test cricket

As England prepare to launch a high-performance review to make their cricket come back to the top in all formats of the game, former keeper-batsman Matt Prior has come out to point out the exact issues that plague the system at the moment.

Prior, a veteran of 79 Test matches and considered as one of England’s very best, has argued that the England Cricket Board’s Pathways programme is massively hurting the country chances of discovering the top talents.

The former cricketer, while talking on a talkSPORT podcast, stated that the expense of playing cricket at the junior category is stopping many parents from entering the sport.

“Where I feel this is very wrong is that kids are being asked to go to trials and they’re being selected on their talent and then being told we want you to be part of the pathway and then the parents are being slapped with a bill,” Prior said.

He added that instead of paying big money to the international players to come and play very few innings in County Cricket, that could be diverted into age-group competitions and sponsor these kids.

“Whatever is crucial in your business and make it successful you budget for that. So what counties are saying is that we’re not budgeting for pathway because we don’t see it as important. But we’ll get the overseas player for 150 grand for five games, we’re not talking about millions here, we’re talking about one hundred, two hundred grand to fund a development pathway per year.

“You’re telling me you can’t find the budget to give the most talented cricketers in your county the best opportunity? I’m calling that, I’m sorry.”

England have suffered massively over the last World Test Championship cycle failing to bring up classic Test match batters that could survive the initial burst from the bowlers. However, it was their recent routing against Australia Down Under that really put focus back on restructuring their cricket.