Former England Wicket-Keeper batsman Matt Prior has been awarded the Honorary Life Membership of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). This is awarded by the MCC Committee to people in recognition of their services to the game of cricket and projects surrounding the game. Currently, MCC has more than 300 Honorary Life Members against total membership number of 18000.
Prior retired from all forms of cricket in 2015 due to an injury. In a career where he played 79 test matches, he averaged 40.18 and claimed 256 dismissals behind stumps. He was England’s second most successful wicket- keeper behind Alan Knott who had 269 dismissals. Prior who was born at Johannesburg in South Africa on February 26, 2015 moved to England from South Africa. He represented England at all ages, up to and including Under-19s, making his Sussex debut in 2001 as a 19-year-old.
Definitely a skilled wicketkeeper-batsman for No. 7 and sound upholder of wicket-keeping skills, Matt Prior was a instrumental in supporting England in going up the Test rankings. His image is similar Alec Stewart who also has no-nonsense approach towards the game.
On the occasion, John Stephenson, MCC Head of Cricket, said: “MCC awards Honorary Life Membership of the Club to cricketers who have given excellent service to the game over a number of years, and Matt certainly falls in to that category. He has been a fantastic servant to his country and is fully deserving of this accolade.”
Matt Prior, elated with the honor, said:
“It’s a great privilege to be awarded Honorary Life Membership of MCC and I’m delighted to accept it. MCC is a fantastic club and does excellent work for the good of cricket across the world, so to be recognised by them for my contribution means a lot. I have some wonderful memories of playing at Lord’s, not least scoring a century on my debut there in 2007. That was an incredible feeling and I can still remember the reception I got when I walked back through the Pavilion. Lord’s is a very special place and I can’t wait to come back as an Honorary Life Member of MCC.”
MCC is one of the most reputed cricket club, the owner of Lord’s Ground and the guardian of the Laws of the game. It was founded in 1787, and is the sole authority on the Laws of Cricket. The club moved to its current home at Lord’s in 1814.