Matt Prior biography, married, wife, emily prior, former cricketer, children, family, retirement, net worth

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<h2>Early Life and Background</h2>

<p><a href="/biography/matt-prior">Matthew James Prior</a>, a former English <a href="/biography/matt-prior">cricketer</a>, was born on 26 February 1982 in Johannesburg, South Africa. He moved to England with his family at the age of 11 and has lived there since. His mother is of South African descent, while his father is of English origin. Prior attended Brighton College, where he began playing cricket and quickly progressed through youth levels. He played for the St Matthias Cricket Club's colts team in his early years, setting the stage for a distinguished domestic and international cricket career.</p>

<p><a href="/biography/matt-prior">Matthew Prior</a> is married to Emily Nelson, the daughter of former Arsenal F.C. and Brighton & Hove Albion <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sammy_Nelson">footballer</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sammy_Nelson">Sammy Nelson</a>. The couple has two children, one son and one daughter.</p>

<h2>Domestic Career with Sussex</h2>

<p><a href="/biography/matt-prior">Matthew Prior</a> represented Sussex County Cricket Club throughout his domestic career. He was a three-time <a href="/biography/matt-prior">recipient</a> of the prestigious NBC Denis Compton Award, which is given to promising young cricketers. In 2003, he played a key role in helping Sussex clinch the County Championship and scored over 1,000 first-class runs. He topped Sussex’s run charts again in 2004, amassing 1,158 runs, including an unbeaten double century (201 not out) against Loughborough UCCE.</p>

<p>Although his 874 runs in 2005 were fewer than the previous year, Prior re-established himself as Sussex’s first-choice wicketkeeper after previously sharing the role with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Ambrose">Tim Ambrose</a>. He was part of the Sussex side that won the County Championship on three occasions—in 2003, 2006, and 2007. However, his appearances in the 2007 campaign were limited due to his England duties.</p>

<h2>England Career and International Debut</h2>

<p><a href="/biography/matt-prior">Matthew Prior</a> made his One Day International (ODI) debut for England in 2004 against Zimbabwe. Opening the batting with <a href="/biography/ian-bell">Ian Bell</a>, he scored 35 in a match England won by 74 runs. He was subsequently selected for the ODI series against Pakistan in 2005. After scoring 45 and 32 in the first two matches, his performance declined in the remaining games, where he managed single-digit scores. Despite mixed results, he was retained for England’s ODI series against India, contributing 22, 33, 37, and 14 runs in consecutive matches. He was left out of the fifth game but returned for the sixth, helping England to a win, before playing a minimal role in the final match.</p>

<h2>Test Cricket Achievements</h2>

<p>Prior made a more lasting impact in Test cricket. He was recalled in 2008 for series against South Africa and India, with his performance improving notably in 2009 against the West Indies. During that series, he was named Man of the Match, marking a turning point in his international career. Over time, he became a reliable wicketkeeper-batsman, known for his aggressive yet controlled batting style.</p>

<p>In total, Prior scored seven centuries in his Test career, with a highest score of 131 against Pakistan. He ended his Test career with a batting average of 40, a commendable figure for a wicketkeeper-batsman.</p>

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<h2>Aggressive Batting and Role in ODI Matches</h2>

<p>Though more successful in Test matches, Prior's aggressive right-handed batting earned him opportunities as an opener in ODIs. Despite relatively few appearances in the shorter format, he demonstrated versatility by stepping into roles that demanded both steadiness and explosiveness at the top of the order—skills that were critical for England during transitional periods in its white-ball setup.</p>

<h2>Injury and Retirement</h2>

<p><a href="/biography/matt-prior">Matthew Prior</a> announced his retirement from all forms of professional cricket in June 2015. The decision was prompted by a recurring Achilles tendon injury that had limited his playtime and affected his performance. His final professional appearance came in 2014, and despite hopes of a comeback, he cited his inability to meet the physical demands of the game as the key reason for retiring. His retirement marked the end of a respected career, especially among English cricket fans who valued his grit and consistency behind the stumps and with the bat.</p>

<h2>Personal Life and Legacy</h2>

<p>In addition to his on-field achievements, Prior's personal life has drawn interest due to his connections to football through his wife, Emily Prior (née <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sammy_Nelson">Nelson</a>), daughter of former professional footballer <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sammy_Nelson">Sammy Nelson</a>. The family has largely kept a low public profile, though it is known they have two children.</p>

<p>While exact figures about his net worth remain undisclosed, estimates suggest he earned approximately £700,000 a year during his professional playing career. Although some reports have categorized him as an ultra-high-net-worth individual, such claims remain speculative in the absence of verified financial data.</p>

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