“It’s what I’ve worked towards my whole life” – Jamie Porter
“It was a little bit unexpected,” said Porter, speaking to the Professional Cricketers’ Association after receiving his maiden inclusion in an England Test squad.
“To be honest it hasn’t sunk in yet, I’m trying to get a few minutes to myself to sit and process it properly. There is a great deal of excitement ahead of next week. I obviously have a lot of emotions going through my head, mainly thinking of my family and how much this means to them.”
The right-arm seamer may be surprised by his call-up, but he has earned the recognition by being, in national selector Ed Smith’s words, “the outstanding seam bowler in the county championship over the past three seasons.”
In that time he has taken 158 wickets in the County Championship, more than any other bowler, at an exceptional average of 22.94. His efforts helped Essex secure promotion from Division Two of the Championship and the Division One title in successive seasons. A stress fracture to his back at the end of the 2017 season prevented him from taking part in a Lions tour for which he was selected, but he has impressed again since his return.
His journey is all the more remarkable considering that at the start of 2014, Porter, then 20 years old, had almost given up on a career as a professional cricketer, working as a recruitment consultant in London and playing club cricket. Instead he knuckled down and earned a contract with Essex, and hasn’t looked back, his unwavering dedication to his eventual goal of England recognition spurring him on.
“The only reward I’m interested in is playing Test cricket,” said Porter. "It’s what I’ve worked towards my whole life and has always been my dream and now I am a step closer, that’s why I feel a big amount of relief.
“It makes it feel even more worth it, I’ve always been so grateful for the opportunity Essex gave me and how it’s all worked out here and now to be in a situation where this time next week I could be walking out representing my country it feels pretty special.”