Prior's turning up the volume to silence his critics

Prior's first summer as England's first-choice batsman-keeper began with him being cheered off at Lord's after smashing the West Indies for a dreamlike century on his Test debut but ended with critics questioning not only his ability but also his non-stop vocals from behind the stumps during a tetchy series against India.

Although not directly fingered in the great 'Jelly Bean Affair' at Trent Bridge, which so upset some members of the visiting side, Prior was a central figure in what became a full-scale debate over 'sledging' because his was the voice often picked up by on-field microphones.

Crucially, however, England stuck by him and now coach Peter Moores has made it clear that the 25-year-old will head for Sri Lanka this week as the main man, even though the squad for a three-Test series includes promising alternative Phil Mustard.

"A lot has been talked about Matt but he has played seven Tests and averages almost 40, which is a good effort," said Moores.

No one, though, has thought more about the subject in question than Prior. "It was an awesome summer and I loved every minute of it," said the Sussex player, who missed the recent one-day series victory in Sri Lanka after fracturing his thumb during the World Twenty20.

"I realised a dream by playing Test cricket and scoring a hundred. Then I ended up playing in all seven Tests.

If someone had offered me that at the beginning of the season I would have bitten his arm off.

"I have a fantastic base from which I can push on and succeed in international cricket while being a part of a successful England team."

Prior's determination should not be underestimated. It took a strong character to withstand some tough criticism and then keep wicket virtually without blemish during a tense one-day series against India, which ended in a 4- 3 home triumph.

"During that one-day series, after all the stick I'd taken, I kept wicket well," said Prior while helping Slazenger to launch its 2008 cricket product range at Lord's. "That was where the thumb injury slightly came at the wrong time because I felt I'd come back strong and was ready to push on again. But I tried to turn it into a positive by using the enforced break to have a rest and to reflect."

And what did he make of the criticism, especially that concerning his chatter from behind the stumps? "At first it can be a bit of a shock but it's how you deal with it," he said.

"I've always been competitive and I'm not going to change that. It's the way I've always played.

"When my captain, coach or teammates start to say to me I should calm it down, then I'll say fair enough. But they haven't done that, and they're the people I want to be happy with me."