4th Test: Ambrose IN, Prior OUT...

[Pavilionaire]

I see Prior's returning back to the UK after the birth of his first child.

Am I being harsh in feeling that things are now too far in favour of the player? The baby was born on Monday morning, there is time to see his wife and the baby, come back on Tuesday night and keep on the Thursday.

Elite cricketers have plenty of time to spend with their families and are paid handsomely. It seems this is another setback for our chances of squaring the series because Ambrose will need to go through a learning curve re the opposition and keeping with Swann.

You wonder how the players and their families used to managed back in the day when tour lasted 3-4 months and travel was by steamship.

 

[keaton]

It's up to the selectors really isn't it? if Ambrose keeps and bats well (don't laugh, it could happen) then Prior might struggle to get back into the team. I have less a problem with him this than the injury prone Flintoff playing in the IPL

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

Matt Prior doesn't have an elite contract. Some things are more important than sport and surely anyone regardless of career would want to be with their wife and new born child.

 

[BensGrandad]

He could have flown home after the last test and just missed this match which isa nothing game really and still been back in time to re adjust the time difference etc to play on Thursday.

 

[Pavilionaire]

Some things are more important than sport and surely anyone regardless of career would want to be with their wife and new born child.

He has a short career and, with the right management, shouldn't have to work again after the age of 40.

He has the Ashes coming up, he hasn't nailed down his place in the side but is beginning to look the part. His absence is not helping the side in a series which, after recent results, we really need to win.

I'm sure after the Stanford debacle and the loss of the Vodafone contract the ECB are anxious we get a result, so you'd have thought we need our best players in the line-up. His inclusion in the meaningless match against the President's XI seems particularly daft.

 

[The Oldman]

It was always agreed that Matt would fly home for the birth, then return. Maybe the baby arrived earlier than expected.

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

The plan for Prior to fly home during the tour has always been in place, its just being done a bit earlier than expected. He was planning to play in the next test and fly home after that missing the final test and then returning for the 1 day series. The reason that Matt is playing in the Presidents game was to keep his batting up while Ambrose got a bit of time behind the stumps incase anything happened earlier than originally expected.

The baby came a little earlier than planned and he obviously wants to be home asap to spend some time with his wife and son, no-one can blame him. He'll be back for the 5th test now. He is still Englands first choice wicket keeper and I'd be very suprised if he wasn't behind the stumps for the final test.

 

[Mackenzie]

I applaud Matt....he's put his family before his career, its all about perspective.

 

[Seagull over NZ]

I'm sorry but what job doesn't generally allow you to be there at the birth of your child? Yeah thats right, there aren't many. Why should a sportsman be any different? It was on the cards that he would miss the last test but the baby has come earlier than expected. I have no grumbles with him leaving, in fact i applaud him.

I think also he has done enough to walk straight back into the side. Ambrose's batting is just too limited.

 

[jordanseagull]

Be serious, HIS FIRSTBORN child has been born. Its the best moment in his life, why would he replace this invaluable time with anything?

 

[Drizzlecake]

Am I right in thinking that his wife Emily is the daughter of the great Sammy Nelson

 

[Pavilionaire]

Ok, same circumstances, different scenario, but it's Wayne Rooney flying home from WC2010 and misses S-F with Germany, which we lose on penalties. Would that also be 'acceptable'?

 

[Taybha]

Thoughtless women yet again

 

[goldstone]

They shouldn't have planned for the birth to happen during a test series.

 

[drew]

Ok, same circumstances, different scenario, but it's Wayne Rooney flying home from WC2010 and misses S-F with Germany, which we lose on penalties. Would that also be 'acceptable'?

Colleen will not doubt be there. I suspect he will be avoiding unprotected sex during the months of Sept/Oct/Nov (just to be on the safe side).

He has a short career and, with the right management, shouldn't have to work again after the age of 40.

He has the Ashes coming up, he hasn't nailed down his place in the side but is beginning to look the part. His absence is not helping the side in a series which, after recent results, we really need to win.

I'm sure after the Stanford debacle and the loss of the Vodafone contract the ECB are anxious we get a result, so you'd have thought we need our best players in the line-up. His inclusion in the meaningless match against the President's XI seems particularly daft.

Just out of interest, exactly how many times do you think that baby will be born? Once is my guess yet he will still have other opportunities to play test cricket.

Out of interest, were you at the birth of your own children?

 

[Taybha]

I wasnt even there at the conception

 

[Pavilionaire]

So what is acceptable? From Cricinfo:

* MICHAEL VAUGHAN

While playing in the second day of a Test against New Zealand at Headingley in 4 June 2004, Vaughan left an hour before the close to witness the birth of his first child, Tallulah Grace. Vaughan returned the next morning to continue captaining the team.

* MARTIN CORRY AND WILL GREENWOOD

Corry left the England camp during the World Cup in Australia in 2003 to be present at the birth of his daughter but returned to play in his side's annihilation of Uruguay. Greenwood also returned home during the 2003 World Cup due to problems with his wife's pregnancy, but returned to play in England's toughest tests, including in the winning final side.

 

[Don Tmatter]

9 months ago, Prior probably wasn't expecting to be back in the test team.

 

[Pavilionaire]

Colleen will not doubt be there. I suspect he will be avoiding unprotected sex during the months of Sept/Oct/Nov (just to be on the safe side).



Just out of interest, exactly how many times do you think that baby will be born? Once is my guess yet he will still have other opportunities to play test cricket.

Out of interest, were you at the birth of your own children?

Yes I was, but that's not the same because I wasn't on duty with my country. If I was in Prior's shoes I'd fly back for as much time before the match as is practical.

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

Yes I was, but that's not the same because I wasn't on duty with my country. If I was in Prior's shoes I'd fly back for as much time before the match as is practical.

On duty with his country? He's playing a bit of cricket, not fighting on the front lines in Iraq.