LAHORE, Dec 8: England’s Matthew Prior on Thursday said he would love to open for his country in the five-match one-day series against Pakistan. “I will be happy playing in any position for England, but if I was opening the batting I would absolutely love it,” Prior told reporters ahead of Saturday’s opening match.

Prior, 23, staked his claim with a brilliant 84-ball 72 in a warm-up game against Pakistan ‘A’, which his side lost by a single wicket at Lahore’s Bagh-i-Jinnah on Wednesday.

First choice Geraint Jones keeps wickets for England but Prior might get a place purely as a batsman after captain Michael Vaughan was ruled out with a knee injury.

Prior, who moved to England from his native South Africa before representing England at Under-19 level, said he enjoyed playing one-day cricket.

“It is as an opener where I enjoy playing the most, especially in one-day cricket. I have done it for Sussex for the last two seasons and I feel I play my most natural game there,” said Prior.

The tourists have also kept batsman Ian Bell as a possible Vaughan replacement.

“I don’t know where or how I will be involved. Some people say as a super sub, others the top of the order. I don’t really know, it’s out of my hands and when I get the opportunity all I can do is take advantage of it,” Prior said.—AFP