Prior says playing in front of 'cricket-mad' fans of India 'great opportunity'

London, Nov 14(ANI): England wicket keeper Matt Prior has said playing in front of cricket-mad Indian fans would be a great opportunity for them, and they would give their best to win the Test series.

"It will be tough but out of those tough challenges come your great rewards. Winning the Ashes in Australia was a tough challenge but it felt even better at the end of it because it was tough. If it was easy, it's not as much fun if you come out on top," the Daily Express quoted Prior, as saying.

"You only have to be out here to see what cricket means to the people of India - it's a religion out here. To play in front of people who have that mentality is a fantastic opportunity for any cricketer," he added.

"But to come out here and win would be even better. If we can pull this one off it would be a fantastic honour to be a part of it," he said.

England's last successful tour here was in 1984-85 when England upset the odds to win the Test series 2-1.

"This is a challenging place to play, undoubtedly, and India know their conditions fantastically well - like we do when we play in England," said Prior.

"We're brought up playing the swinging ball and do it well; they are brought up playing a spinning ball and they do that well. We have done a lot of good work after the bad experience of last winter, though, learning a lot from that," he added.

"We've had a very good and long preparation phase this time round so we go into this Test match feeling that we have got every base covered," he said. (ANI)