England are grooming Sussex's Matt Prior as their future opener in one-day cricket.

Prior, 22, missed out on selection for the main tour of South Africa when the squads were announced yesterday with Chris Read chosen as understudy to Geraint Jones.

Instead, Prior will link up with the Academy squad for the second year running and has been told by Director Rod Marsh that he will open the batting during the tour of Sharjah and Sri Lanka next March.

Sussex team-mate Luke Wright is one of seven students who will join the Academy at Loughborough on a part-time basis after progressing from England under-19s this season.

Prior has made a maiden one-day hundred and five fifties since taking on the opener's role in limited overs cricket this season for Sussex and is delighted to get a chance to prove himself at a higher level.

He said: "People asked me whether I was disappointed not to go to South Africa but how can I be?

"I spoke to Rod yesterday and he said that the 12 of us in the Academy are regarded as the next in line.

"I'm the only wicketkeeper who will tour and he wants me to open in one-dayers and perhaps even in the two four-day games as well. It's a fantastic opportunity which I'm really looking forward to."