Matt Prior lived out his boyhood dream with a memorable century on debut at Lord's, as England racked up a huge score against West Indies, writes DAVID CLOUGH.

Prior's unbeaten 126 was one of four hundreds - only the second time in English cricket history that they have managed that feat in one innings - and by the time bad light cut short his fun, the hosts had 553 for five on the board.

''What a fantastic feeling!'' he said.

''For an English cricketer - for most cricketers - it just doesn't get any better than that.

''To make your debut at Lord's for England is just a boyhood dream then for it to go like it went today is just unbelievable.''

From the moment he took guard for the first time in Test cricket shortly before tea to the one when he marched off with an unbeaten hundred to his name, in an unbroken stand of 190 with Bell, for Prior, it was 143 minutes of perfection.

''If I re-wrote the whole innings again I wouldn't change a thing,'' he said.

His successful formula involved thinking clearly, keeping his focus, and listening occasionally to Bell.

''Just watch the ball, concentrate - I wasn't even looking at the scoreboard,'' he recalled.

''Belly was brilliant at the other end, at times when maybe I was going at it a bit hard. He was a fantastic help.

''For me to perform I need to go out and be relaxed and I was. I was very pleased with the way I handled my thoughts today and allowed myself to play naturally.

''As a team we have just played very, very well and the innings of Cooky yesterday and Paul Collingwood today were just fantastic; Ian Bell too,'' he said.