Prior thanks Australia for agreeing to delay toss

Leeds, England:

England wicketkeeper Matt Prior thanked Australia for agreeing to delay the toss for the fourth Ashes Test on Friday so he could get treatment on a back spasm.

Prior was injured during warmups just minutes before the toss, when each side has to name its team.

England coach Andy Flower was granted permission by Australia to delay the toss by 10 minutes as Prior received an injection and medical treatment. He went on to be the top scorer with 37 not out as England was dismissed for just 102 - its lowest score against Australia at the ground for 100 years. Australia was 196-4 at stumps.

"Without that 10 minutes I probably would not have played," Prior said. "That extra 10 minutes was huge and I was very thankful to Australia. It was good of the Aussies to agree to that."

Prior said he was warming up as usual when he felt spasms across the middle of his back.

"I couldn't move and was not in a great way," he said. "The physios and doctors did a great job and I was able to play. I have no idea if they considered (calling for) a replacement. The only thing on my mind was trying to get my breath back and trying to move my arms."

The England team was also distracted by a fire alarm at the hotel early in the morning which forced the players to stand outside in the rain.

"There have been a number of things that you could say were distractions but that's no excuse," Prior said. "We have all played enough cricket and are all big enough, old enough and experienced enough to adapt and get on with the job. The guys will hold their hands up and admit that there were dismissals that we should not have had."