The last month has been a chastening experience for England's Ashes heroes.

A 2-0 series defeat in Pakistan brought them crashing back to earth and before the players can even think about the break most of them look in desperate need of there is still the one-day series to negotiate.

But if you think it's been hard work for Michael Vaughan and Co after the euphoria of the summer, spare a thought for Matt Prior.

The Sussex wicketkeeper-batsman has been an increasingly frustrated onlooker since making a half-century batting at No.10 in the opening warm-up match at the end of October.

The 23-year-old always knew that the chances of a Test debut on his first senior tour were remote but that hasn't made it any less frustrating.

"Staying motivated to do the preparation that's required when you know that in all probability you're not going to play has been tough ," he admitted.

"The last few weeks have been a big learning experience but I like to think I've coped with it very well.

"During the Tests there were four of us not involved - myself, Alistair Cook, Alex Loudon, Jimmy Anderson - and we took in in turns to do 12th man duties.

"But when I was at the grounds the emphasis was very much on supporting the 11 guys out there which is exactly how it should be."

In effect, Prior's tour really starts this week although even the mature 72 he scored when he opened the innings in the one-day warm-up game yesterday is no guarantee of a second cap. Skipper Marcus Trescothick, who was rested, and Andrew Strauss are the likely opening partnership, at least for the first of the five matches.

But after a daily routine of net practice, gym sessions and DVDs in his hotel room, Prior was clearly reinvigorated as he felt bat on ball and dived around with his usual enthusiasm in the covers for the first time in five weeks.

"I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I get a chance in the one-dayers," he said earlier this week.

"But I've learned not to get too excited so if it doesn't happen I won't be too disappointed."

The lack of distractions off the field in Pakistan has been well documented. This is a tour where even a stroll outside the hotel can only be undertaken once the armed guard at the end of the hotel corridor has given the nod.

But Prior isn't going stir crazy just yet. Sussex team-mates Mushtaq Ahmed and Rana Naved both entertained him at their family homes and Mushtaq, who is unofficial second-in-command to Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer, offered some valuable advice to Prior on how to make the most of the tour, even if his time in the middle has been limited.

"At the start he told me how much I would learn from watching batsmen like Michael Vaughan, Marcus Trescothick, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Yousuf at close quarters - what makes t#hem tick and their different methods of preparing for big games - and he was right," he said.

"Batting-wise Inzy was the biggest difference between us in the Tests. I don't think there is another cricketer in the world who backs himself more. He had a few throwdowns a couple of days before the Tests and that was his preparation.

"I suppose it shows that nothing is guaranteed if you have 400 or 40 balls thrown at you in practice although I don't think Inzy's methods would work for me."

If Inzaman's success was hardly a surprise, the sight of a fit, focussed Shoaib Akhtar making monkeys of the England batsman was, although not to Prior.

"Mushy told me before the series started that we would see a different Shoaib, that he had changed. I've played against him in England when he's been all over the place and didn't look interested but he bowled superbly and the slower delivery he has developed looks a really potent weapon for him now."

Prior is looking forward to re-charging his batteries and then preparing for the second leg of England's winter on the sub-continent in India.

But there is unfinished business first before he can think about Christmas at home. Geraint Jones' solid form with gloves and bat means he is unlikely to replace his Kent rival behind the stumps but surely he will get an opportunity to win his second England one-day cap.

"It's frustrating not playing, any player in my position would feel the same," he said.

"I spoke to (coach) Duncan Fletcher the other day. He explained that it's out of my hands to some extent because the side is pretty much established but he told me to keep working hard, putting pressure on the others and making sure I'm ready if the chance comes."