Former Sussex and England wicketkeeper-batsman Matt Prior has been awarded an Honorary Life Membership of Marylebone Cricket Club.
The 34-year-old represented England in 79 Tests, 68 one-day internationals and 10 Twenty20s before calling time on his playing career in 2015 due to a serious Achilles injury.
Prior won three Ashes series and was part of Andrew Strauss’ side that rose to the top of the International Cricket Council Test rankings in 2011.
The only England gloveman to make a century on Test debut, he finished his longest-format career with an average of 40.18 and was the country’s second most successful wicketkeeper of all time, after Alan Knott, with 256 dismissals.
Prior 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.
Thank you to the MCC & @HomeOfCricket for this amazing honour. To be awarded Life Membership is a very proud moment https://t.co/1g9tsaeTqk
— Matt Prior (@MattPrior13) March 8, 2016
“Lord’s is a very special place and I can’t wait to come back as an Honorary Life Member of MCC.”
MCC head of cricket John Stephenson 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.”
Source: ECB