Cricket: Matt Prior confident he'll prove selectors right

Prior was the surprise selection in the 15-man squad when, despite having not played a one-day international for almost a year, he was named ahead of fellow wicketkeeper Steven Davies.

The Ashes winner flew to Hobart to rejoin the squad and is set to go straight into the team for the second match of the series against Australia today.

He is also set to take over Davies' vacated place at the top of the order - a position he has not filled for England since November 2008.

But the right-hander believes the role is best suited to his hard-hitting style and is looking forward to facing the new ball alongside skipper Andrew Strauss.

"It's the role that I enjoy and one that I want to play in one-day cricket," he said. "I think Strauss and I will form a pretty good partnership. We get on very well and run well between the wickets so hopefully we can get the team off to a good start."

Prior was used at the top of England's order in 27 of his first 29 one-day internationals, but enjoyed only moderate success averaging 25.08.

However, the 28-year-old, who has made a total of 55 ODI appearances, believes the experience he has gained since then will ensure a better return.

"I think my batting has come along a huge amount," he added. "I think I'm a very different player to the guy that opened the batting for England in one-day cricket however many years ago.

"It wasn't the getting the starts - that was the problem - or getting through a new ball that might be swinging. I always seem to get off to good starts, so it was probably just having that experience that I didn't have at the time to then go on and make that match- winning score. You look at Shane Watson in the last game getting 161 - it's a match-winning total.

"Those are the types of innings that all batsmen are looking to get and realising that their 40s, 50s and 60s don't win games. That's certainly what I'll be trying to do.."

The Sussex gloveman bridled at suggestions that he might feel lucky.

He added: "I've put a lot of hard work into my one-day game and it hasn't just happened overnight. It isn't a case of 'oh yeah let's get him in'; there's obviously reasons why I am here."