Matt Prior has credited opening partner Brendon McCullum for helping him to enjoy one-day cricket again.

Prior, 28, is now the second-highest run scorer in this season’s t20 after cracking 117 in Wednesday’s win over Glamorgan Dragons.

He has scored 284 runs in six games ahead of tonight’s clash with Somerset at Taunton (6pm).

McCullum is on his way back to New Zealand after his brief stint with the Sharks but has left a strong impression, particularly on Prior.

He said: “I can’t speak highly enough of Brendon, he has been fantastic.

“As a batsman he is devastating to watch and I have enjoyed opening with him but off the field he has given me a huge amount of belief and confidence.

“He has taught me to enjoy the game again, to back myself and go out there, have fun and even show off a little bit. I think I have forgotten that a bit.

“We gave him a big send off after Wednesday because he has brought a huge amount to the dressing room and, from a selfish point of view, to me and I can’t thank him enough.”

Skipper Murray Goodwin will open tonight while Yasir Arafat is likely to replace McCullum as second overseas player although Sussex have the option of bringing in Ed Joyce to bolster the batting and it might not be long until Prior can start keeping wicket again.

“I am not far away now,” he said. “Someone asked me on Wednesday if I had given up keeping in one-day cricket which is absolutely ridiculous.

“The schedule is very hectic so I have to use windows of time for rehabilitation quite carefully. After the second Test against Bangladesh my right hand was pretty much falling off and the only way I was going to get it right was by not keeping.

“It made sense that Andrew Hodd took the gloves but the hand is feeling good and I should be keeping again soon.”

Sussex probably need two more wins to guarantee a home game in the quarter-finals although Prior says his side are taking nothing for granted.

He added: “It is a fickle game, we can’t get complacent because things can change very quickly.

“But we have won eight out of nine and 16 out of the last 17 and the won we lost against Gloucestershire we should have won. I heard (Glamorgan captain) Jamie Dalrymple say after we beat them down ther ‘let’s see how Sussex do without Yardy and Wright.’ Well, 239-3 on Wednesday showed them what we have got.”