The 26-year-old Sussex wicketkeeper-batsman has been recalled after nearly a year on the sidelines and will feature in five one-day internationals against South Africa in the coming weeks.

His recall represents another opportunity to try and establish himself behind the stumps at international level having become the latest player to fail to live up to the huge expectations required of an England wicketkeeper.

Many have tried and failed since Alec Stewart's retirement in 2003 to
perform consistently enough with the gloves and the bat to cement their place in England's Test and one-day sides with Chris Read, Geraint Jones, James Foster, Phil Mustard and Tim Ambrose among those who have been unable to make the place their own.

Prior could have added his own name to that list having been dropped at the start of this year following 10 Tests where he established himself as an international-quality batsman, but struggled to convince with the gloves.

But as he prepares to return in tomorrow's day-night international at Headingley, Prior believes a more relaxed – but just as determined – attitude can reap dividends.

"It's incredible that the keeping position for England has become this big thing," said Prior. "The way I try and look at it is that you can't take it too personally otherwise you put yourself under too much pressure and you can't perform.

"I learned a huge amount from being involved with England before and I come back a year later as a more mature person and cricketer – I'm really looking forward to doing the job and doing it better.

"It's very easy to become quite intense. I guess that's all about wanting to do well and no matter how it comes out on the field, you're just trying to do well and put your best performance in."

Since being dropped by England, Prior has responded exactly as the selectors would have wanted and averages 58 in the top division of the county championship while he has worked with Stewart on his wicketkeeping.

Perhaps the biggest change in Prior's approach, however, has been to take the emphasis away from his cricket when he is not training or playing – which is something he struggled to do previously during an England career spanning 10 Tests and 23 one-day internationals.

"I think coming back a year older and wiser, I will have found a nice balance between the time when you're on and when you are off and let yourself relax a little bit," he said.