'Cycling-addict' Prior aiming to saddle Oz with another thumping in return Ashes

England wicketkeeper Matt Prior has lost an amazing 9 kgs to make sure he is fighting fit for another Ashes scrap.

According to the Mirror, Prior's addiction to cycling has seen him shed the weight just as Olympic gold medallist Bradley Wiggins did to triumph in the 2012 Tour de France.

The 31-year-old, one of eight members of the touring party, who is hoping to celebrate an historic four Ashes series wins in a row, has seen the benefits, the report said.

He said that one of the main things was being physically in the right shape because he thought that going into the next five Tests, the team that can avoid injury would obviously be in a better position.

Prior said that they had their fitness testing up at Loughborough last week and he managed to get personal bests in every aspect, so from that point of view, cycling was really working.

Prior only began riding last year in to aid his recovery from an Achilles injury, but he really enjoys it, the report added.

So much so that earlier this year, Team Sky invited him out to their winter training camp in Tenerife where he got to crunch the miles with Wiggins and reigning Le Tour champion Chris Froome, the report further said.