Robinson praises duo

Matt Prior's lowest score in five innings for Sussex this season is 44 © Getty Images

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Sussex cricket manager Mark Robinson believes the selection of two of his players in the England Lions squad is a reflection of their contributions in helping secure back-to-back LV County Championship titles.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Matt Prior has bounced back from criticism for his glovework, while Luke Wright’s emerging all-round talent has been rewarded with a recall to England colours.

Prior kept well in Sussex’s season curtain-raiser against MCC at Lord’s, and is in a purple patch with the bat, with scores of 44, 62, 105, 59 and 50 this summer.

But Robinson believes his talent was never in doubt.

“I’m delighted for the both of them," he told ecb.co.uk. "Matt’s talent has never been in doubt. He averages over 40 in Test match cricket, and his form for us this season has been excellent.

“Just as importantly, he kept brilliantly in the MCC game, which I hope reminded everyone of what he can do.”

Robinson was disappointed to be losing Prior to Lions duty, but acknowledged that he had two excellent stand-by wicketkeepers in Andrew Hodd and Ben Brown.

Luke Wright is keen to prove he is a "more complete" player, according to Mark Robinson

Hodd averaged 33 with the bat in Sussex’s title campaign last season, and took 18 catches and six stumpings.

“Fortunately, we have two very promising young wicketkeepers and Andy did very well to help guide us to the Championship last time,” Robinson added.

As for Wright, his England exploits to date have been mostly confined to the limited-overs arena, with memorable lower-order knocks of 50 against India last summer and 47 against New Zealand in February.

But Wright is desperate to alter any impression of him as a one-day player, and Robinson acknowledged that a career-best 153 against MCC did him no harm.

“He batted brilliantly against MCC in the opening game, and he’s desperate to prove himself in the longer form of the game," Robinson said.

“Everyone remembers his one-day and Twenty20 performances, but Luke is eager to show than he’s a more complete cricketer.”

However unintentional and unfortunate, Wright's flooring of Steve Kirby served as a reminder that he has fire with the ball in his hand.

“He has nip in his bowling, though there’s still a little more work to be done in that department,” said Robinson.