Sussex skipper Chris Adams today called on England to show faith in Matt Prior and reap the benefits in the World Cup.

Prior has been retained in England's squads for Test and One-Day International action when they visit India during February, March and April.

The Sussex wicketkeeper-batsman opened the innings for England in their one-dayers in Pakistan recently, scoring 45, 32, two, six and nine at a strike rate of 77 runs per 100 balls.

But he faces a real battle for a place this time as captain Michael Vaughan returns to the line-up.

Adams would love to see 23-year-old Prior open the innings and be England's World Cup answer to Adam Gilchrist in the Caribbean next year.

The Sussex captain said: "This is fantastic news for Matt and a terrific message from the England selectors in terms of continuity and outlining that he is very much part of the future.

"He had limited opportunities in Pakistan in what I imagine was a difficult tour to be on as back-up keeper.

"It was a brilliant experience for him though, and, speaking to him, I think he has taken a lot from it.

"He had the chance to open the batting in the one-dayers and I think he did okay. He would have liked to have turned one of his last three innings into a score but he showed he can get starts in the first two.

"There has been talk of Andrew Strauss opening with Marcus Trescothick and obviously Vaughan has to come back into the side so it remains to be seen whether that means Matt is used in the supersub role.

"But I hope they continue with him at the top of the order.

"If we are to win the World Cup, we need someone to do what Adam Gilchrist does for Australia and potentially blow a team away from the start of the innings.

"Trescothick and Strauss are both outstanding batsmen in their own right but that Gilchrist role is something Matt can do in one-day cricket.

"If they get it right and manage him well, England will get a tremendous opening batsman and we will have a happy cricketer at Sussex."

Adams, discarded by England after five Tests and five ODIs, is delighted to see emerging talent given more of a chance to shine these days.

He said: "They give you time to get off and running and get your first games out of the way.

"Then they give you the chance when the new-boy nerves are out of the way to show you can produce performances."

England, still smarting from double defeat in Pakistan, leave for India on February 12 and will give all the squad a chance to stretch their legs in a three-day warm-up against CCI Mumbai.

They then play a three-dayer with a President's XI in Baroda before launching into a three Test series followed by seven limited overs internationals.

Adams hopes England coach Duncan Fletcher and his men will be back at their best after their failings in Pakistan.

He said: "They probably got it wrong in Pakistan. They struggled with the comedown from beating Australia and they under-estimated Pakistan as a place.

"I am sure, knowing Duncan and how a thorough a planner he is, he will address those issues."

The omission of Darren Gough was the major talking point of yesterday's squad announcement.

Worcestershire batsman Vikram Solanki was the other notable absentee from the 16-man one-day squad with the selectors preferring to give Warwickshire's Ian Bell an opportunity.

The selectors will be adding another spinner to the 15-man Test squad before it departs.

Simon Jones, who has not played since injuring his ankle during the fourth Ashes Test victory at Trent Bridge, returns in place of Jimmy Anderson but Vaughan (knee) and Ashley Giles (hip) will have to pass stringent fitness tests.