Prior confident despite batting conundrum

Ravi Bopara, Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott are all trying to enhance their reputations in this week's county programme, but Prior is putting all the speculation aside to focus on the decisive fifth Test in London next week.

"It's amazing to be 1-1 in an Ashes series, it's like having a final in a Test series, it's so exciting, and the whole country has been gripped by the Ashes and really got behind us," he told BBC Radio Five Live. "Those 11 guys who walk out at The Oval will be really pumped up."

Marcus Trescothick has ruled himself out of a return to the Test arena after admitting the mere thought of it had literally given him nightmares, but veteran Surrey batsman Mark Ramprakash would be prepared to step back into the breach while many believe Kent skipper Robert Key would be a sensible addition to the team.

The thought of playing in such a crucial match was too much for Somerset batsman Trescothick, who had been touted for a surprise recall.

The Somerset opener, who has been battling stress-related problems and left the last Ashes tour in 2006-07 before the series had even started, told the Bristol Evening Post: "It has been very flattering to see my name mentioned in so many circles since Australia's crushing win at Headingley and I'd be a liar if I said the prospect of playing at The Oval hadn't occupied my mind a lot.

"In fact, that has been the case to such an extent that the other day I woke up at 6.30am from a terrible dream. There is a nightmare a lot of cricketers experience that they can't get their pads on when they are due in to bat.

"My dream was a variation of that. I couldn't get my England kit out of my bag! The other players were waiting for me on the pitch to do a team photo so I was in a right panic. I woke up in a cold sweat.

"Perhaps that told me something. It gives me a massive kick that I am still thought good enough to come back and play at international level, but I've gone too far down the line in battling my stress problems to change my mind about now ending my England career."

The 39-year-old Ramprakash, who last played for England in 2002, has declared he is available for action if needed.