By Charles Randall With England A in Bangladesh

One of the best wicket-keeper/batsmen on the county circuit, Matt Prior has missed his World Cup chance this time.

Prior disappointed in 11 one-day internationals last winter

While his 36-year-old rival Paul Nixon focuses on the Caribbean, Prior has just spent his 25th birthday in Bangladesh, on tour with England A.

If Nixon is regarded as a stop-gap only, then the Sussex man - who has 11 one-day international caps but no Test experience - could still have a future with England.

A disappointing showing by Geraint Jones over the winter and an apparent lack of confidence in Chris Read means the door is still open for someone to make the wicket-keeping position their own.

Another candidate is looming over Prior's shoulder - and playing alongside him on the current England A tour - in the form of Worcestershire's Stephen Davies.

And there's also Essex's James Foster to consider.

But the very fact that Prior has been sent on tours to India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India again and Bangladesh suggests the England management is happy to invest in his career.

However his returns at senior level have been disappointing for a batsman who stands out from the pack with his power of stroke.

It's something you deal with as a sportsman - there's always going to be competition, always other names bandied about Matt Prior

For Bangladesh the England selectors have made an interesting choice in Davies as Prior's back-up.

They are both Arsenal supporters - Prior's fianc�e Emily is the daughter of the former Arsenal fullback Sammy Nelson - but any similarity ends there.

The two wicket-keepers had not met before the England Academy training and the visit to Perth this winter.

Davies, still only 20, has had little chance with the gloves in Bangladesh but has shown enough batting ability to suggest Prior faces yet more serious competition.

"He's a very talented cricketer," said Prior approvingly. "I had read the glowing write-ups about him, and they seem pretty accurate."

Davies is currently backing up Prior but his batting is impressive

As Prior mentioned, a professional cricketer's life is not just about competing against opposition; he has to ensure he keeps his place in the team.

"It's something you deal with as a sportsman," he said. "There's always going to be competition, always other names bandied about.

"Whatever the England pecking order might be, I have just got to keep putting in performances."

Weight and speed of runs for Sussex persuaded England coach Duncan Fletcher to try Prior out in Pakistan and India last winter.

But he barely averaged 20 as a specialist batsman and back-up wicket-keeper to Geraint Jones and Prior reckons he put too much pressure on himself to do well.

"I got good starts and didn't go on," he said. "It's not through lack of effort or not knowing what I'm trying to do.

"I have spent a lot of time this winter putting my game under scrutiny but sometimes luck does come into it - you might need a half-chance to be dropped or something."

I've been very happy with the way my keeping is going - it's coming on leaps and bounds Matt Prior

He might easily have been referring to Ed Joyce's good fortune in Australia.

An early let-off allowed the Middlesex left-hander to go on to a century for England at Sydney and guarantee himself a World Cup slot with one innings.

Prior added: "On the subcontinent, you have to be very patient at the crease. The other thing is that it's a hard place to keep wicket.

"Because of the low bounce, you have to stand close to the quick bowlers, so that your reaction time is much less.

"I've been very happy with the way my keeping is going. It's coming on leaps and bounds."

England A won their opening four-day match against Bangladesh A by five wickets in Dhaka, required to make 130 off 20 overs on a slow, turning Mirpur pitch that militated against rapid scoring.

Typically Prior led the chase with a string of muscular sweeps, reverse-sweeps and drives, hitting 50 off 52 balls.