Sussex cricket manager Mark Robinson today accused England of a lack of continuity in selection policy after they snubbed wicketkeeper Matt Prior.

The 24-year-old has been left out of a 21-man development squad for this summer's international series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Prior has paid the price for failing to impress sufficiently with the bat against Pakistan and India during the winter when he opened in both series.

In 12 one-day internationals, all played overseas, he averages 20 for England and has yet to lodge a half-century.

Chairman of selectors David Graveney gave Prior the bad news at Hove last week but has told him that players not chosen will "continue to be considered for selection in the normal way."

Prior was unavailable for comment today but Robinson, who also attended his meeting with Graveney, believes the player has been unfairly treated.

He said: "Matt showed he could live at that level against some high-quality bowling even if he didn't quite nail down a spot.

"But he went there as No.2 wicketkeeper and kept faultlessly in both series.

"Then we are told to rest him for the first three games of the season only for him to be left out of this squad. It doesn't add up.

"Bringing him in and then leaving him out doesn't do Matt any good or show any continuity in selection."

After returning to action Prior scored his 12th first-class hundred against Yorkshire and the nature of that innings impressed several people including former Australian Test batsman Darren Lehmann.

"If anyone had seen Matt since he came back they will have noticed that he is playing with a lot more maturity," added Robinson.

"He has learned his lessons from the winter, worked hard and kept well which is all the things I would have thought England would have wanted.

"No wicketkeeper in the country of his age has got 12 hundreds to their name."

Nottinghamshire's Chris Read is the other wicketkeeper in the squad. Prior was told he was being left out on the day Read launched his verbal assault on Mushtaq Ahmed during Sussex's match against Nottinghamshire.

Robinson was also disappointed with the timing of Graveney's visit which came in the middle of a match.

The Sussex coach added: "I've talked at length with Matt about the need to keep his focus, keep scoring runs and putting pressure on Jones.

"He is disappointed but I'm sure this will make him even more determined."