Matt Prior has vowed to do everything in his power to win his England place back after losing his central contract.

The Sussex wicketkeeper had confirmation that he had lost the ECB contract he had held since 2009 today as he recovers from Achilles surgery.

The operation revealed that Prior’s injury was worse than anticipated and explained why the former Brighton College pupil had struggled so badly last summer.

Prior’s first aim is to prove his fitness with Sussex and then to put pressure on his successor Jos Buttler for the gloves next summer.

He said: “It was like going to see the doctor for a sprained ankle and being told you’ve got a double break.

“When I woke up, the first person I saw was the England physio Ben Langley. I just took one look at his face and the first thing I said was, ‘Am I never playing cricket again?’ “I knew at that moment it hadn’t been as straightforward as we’d hoped. And it turns out they found a three-inch tear running up the middle of my Achilles tendon.

“I was shocked. When I was playing, I knew I was sore but you manage the pain and you crack on because you’re playing for England and that means everything.

“To get out there and play with this injury tells me that I’m capable of digging very deep and going to some dark places to achieve my goal of playing for England and that is good to know as I come back from this.

“Of course, I’ve thought that I might not play again and that would be something I’d have to come to terms with. But what I also know is, I love a challenge and if you want me to do something then the best way is to tell me I can’t do it.

“There are things that I still want to do in the game and if it is physically possible I believe I can do that. If my goal is to get back into the England team then I’m going to have to put pressure on him (Buttler) and if that means churning out the runs for Sussex and showing everyone I’ve got my power back then so be it.”