Matt adds gloss for Pietersen

12:13am Thursday 28th August 2008

Matt Prior will link up with England in London on Thursday having made the first strides towards convincing his new captain that he is the man to solve their long-term wicketkeeping problem.

The Sussex keeper-batsman enjoyed the best all-round day of his international career on Tuesday as he hit an unbeaten 45 and took six catches as England romped to a 10-wicket victory over South Africa in the second match of the NatWest Series at Trent Bridge.

England captain Kevin Pietersen said: "I was pleased he finished not out with six catches. It's brilliant because it has been a headache for however long with our wicketkeeper, but let's hope it stays good because he's a hell of a batsman."

Prior's efforts behind the stumps, which included a stunning diving catch to remove captain Graeme Smith, helped England dismiss South Africa for a lowly 83 - their second lowest total in history - with man of the match Stuart Broad claiming five for 23.

His agility helped him equal Alec Stewart's England record of six catches in a one-day international, set against Zimbabwe at Old Trafford in 2000, and may finally have answered those critics who believe his glovework is not up to international standard.

Pietersen added: "He was brilliant but the thing I'm trying to tell Matty and drum into him and the young players is that's great to be on top of a wave, but you've got to try to get to that level where you're cool, you're calm and you're responsible and you deliver day in and day out,

"He's turned up back here with us as a different bloke and he's been brilliant. Fair play to the guy because he could have gone away and felt sorry for himself but he's gone away and scored hundred after hundred for Sussex."

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