Chirpy wicketkeeper Matt Prior has been told to carry on pumping up the volume for Sussex.

The 19-year-old has already established himself as the focal point of the team, six weeks into his first-class career. But Prior's constant encourgement for his team-mates hasn't gone down well with everyone.

Warwickshire's former South African coach Bob Woolmer revealed that Prior had got under his team's skin during last week's Championship match at Hove.

Sussex Chief Executive Dave Gilbert said: "Bob Woolmer thinks Matt should be brought down a peg or two, but as far as we're concerned that's a load of rubbish.

"Matt's cocky, but he's certainly not rude or direspectful to the opposition and the way he speaks to people and handles himself off the field is a model to all young cricketers."

Prior had played just four second team games before his promotion to the first team at the start of the season.

Keeping to bowlers of James Kirtley's pace when you're used to schools and academy cricket takes some getting used too and Prior has the bruises on his hands to prove it.

But after enduring a second ball nought and dropping what turned out to be a crucial catch, he bounced back well with 35 runs in the second dig before he was somewhat harshly adjudged lbw as he swept off-spinner Neil Smith.

Glbert has sympathy for the youngster and the four other players in the team - Murray Goodwin, Mark Davis, Mike Yardy and Bas Zuiderent - who are having to get used to the grind of an English season.

"I remember at the end of my only season of county cricket for Gloucestershire I was absoultely knackered, it is a hard slog," said Gilbert.

"The new guys in our own team have at various stages over the last couple of weeks hit the wall and it's up to them to deal with the strains of a long season in their own way, to pace themselves if you like. Murray has given everything since he came here in terms of talking to people and I think it's simply exhausted him."

bruce.talbot@argus-btn.co.uk