Hopefully my technique will be up to it if I have to sit in and play a different kind of innings Matt Prior

England's debutant wicket-keeper Matt Prior said some hard times in cricket allowed him to savour the ecstasy of a Test century on debut at Lord's.

Prior, 126 not out in a total of 553-5, said: "People say you've got to have the lows to appreciate the highs.

"I have worked really hard to get here and today it's all come right.

"It's the most unbelievable feeling. The boys batted beautifully to set it up for me. Hats off to them for allowing me to just play."

News conference: England's Matt Prior

Prior's selection as wicket-keeper for the match followed a winter of indecision over the position.

Geraint Jones and Chris Read were given opportunities in the Ashes before the selectors turned, in some desperation, to the veteran Paul Nixon for the World Cup.

Prior, 25, had worked with new coach Peter Moores at his county Sussex, but said he had also received important guidance from other figures.

The intent by all the England batsmen was there for all to see Paul Collingwood

"Andy Flower [assistant coach] was fantastic in his work with me at the academy and [county captain] Chris Adams down at Sussex is a fantastic mentor who's helped me through the rough times and been a good friend."

He also paid tribute to former England keeper Alec Stewart, who recently supervised a two-hour batting session for Prior at Hove.

"You get anxious and there are times when you need to ask a few questions, so when I've felt a bit worried it's been fantastic to have someone like Alec, with all that experience, at the other end of the phone - he's been a great help.

"The minute I got the call [into the Test squad] he was the third person I called after my mum and dad and he has been brilliant," he said.

Reflecting on the moment, late on day two, when he cut Chris Gayle for four to reach his century, he said: "You want to take your time and lap it all up but there are so many things going through your head when you hit those runs."

606: DEBATE All credit to Prior, absolutely fantastic knock and I was proud to be at Lord's to see it TD

He raced to his century off 105 balls, but added: "Hopefully my technique will be up to it if, on another occasion, I have to sit in and play a different kind of innings.

"This is one innings. The key now is to back it up with a few more good performances. But the next thing is to have a good day with the gloves, takes the catches that come my way and keep tidily - that's the next goal and objective."

West Indies skipper Ramnaresh Sarwan, meanwhile, was left to rue two early dropped catches which enabled Paul Collingwood to go on and make 111, one of three centuries in the day, which laid the foundation for Prior to go for his shots.

"I think that probably changed the game. Both bowlers were bowling well [at the start of play] and the ball was doing a lot," he said.

"If we had taken our chances it would have been a lot more difficult for the batsmen coming in, Bell and Prior who came in and played pretty well afterwards. We have to look past that now, it's important that when we get our chance to bat that we play very well.

Sarwan nevertheless praised Prior's innings, adding: "I played against him in county cricket and I said before the Test match started that he is a very attacking player and he looks to score all the time and someone who looks to score all the time is very dangerous and he showed that today."

West Indies now face an uphill struggle to save the game, but Sarwan insisted he was still enjoying the experience of leading the side.

"It's been a bit difficult on the field. Things didn't really go the way we wanted it to go but it has been fun. I've seen it [opposition scoring a lot of runs] happen before as vice-captain but you might as well enjoy it as much as you can because from the time you start to get depressed you will find you start thinking too much.

"I have been getting the support from the guys and I think that is very important," he said.