Matt Prior has taken a step back from England duty for the rest of the summer due to injury.

The 32-year-old Sussex wicketkeeper revealed that he has a series of complaints which are hampering his performances and he expects to go under the knife to sort out his Achilles during the break.

Prior said: “I’m not doing justice to myself and more importantly the team and that is what matters first and foremost.

“I tore my quad before the first Test and my right hand has been beaten to a pulp, but the main issue is the Achilles.

“Now we have the time, I want to be pro-active about how we deal with it so I imagine that I’ll have an operation.

“I’ve always said as long as I can do my job I will manage the pain and get on with it, but it has now got to the point where I can’t do my job to the level I expect of myself.”

Prior, who earned the first of 79 England Test caps against the West Indies in 2007, acknowledged that the decision could effectively end his international career.

He added: “It is a huge decision and not one I’ve taken lightly obviously because I could have played my last game.”

The wicketkeeper has come under fire during an England slump which extended to ten Tests without a win yesterday as India triumphed by 95 runs at Lord’s, with Prior only managing 12 runs in the second innings as Ishant Sharma tore through England’s middle order.