COOK TAKES ESSEX TO THE TOP
Chelmsford outfit reign in Championship
Jamie Porter spearheaded an impressive balanced Essex attack that routed a Hampshire side that lost all their 20 wickets in less than three sessions of play. The young pace bowler, who turned 24 on Wednesday, returned career-best figures of 5-24 to destroy the Hampshire first innings and followed up with two more victims to end with match figures of 7-45 as the opposition succumbed tamely to be beaten with more than a day and a session remaining.
“I’m on cloud nine at the moment,” he said. “To get figures like that and help Essex to the win is a brilliant feeling. We’d played three Championship matches before this one and I felt I’d been bowling well then and might have got a five-for in one of those, so it’s nice to finally get the rewards.”
The right-arm lively bowler only made his senior debut at the back end of 2014, but has now taken 140 first-class wickets in 39 matches but he is not a person to rest on his laurels.
“I need to keep taking wickets because there is genuine competition for places in our squad, but that’s a challenge I like,” he admitted. “I like to put myself up against the best and now we are in Division One, I can do that. I’m learning all the time about the game, about myself and how I can improve and become a better bowler.
“My dream is to play Test cricket for England; that’s what I’m working towards and hopefully, one day, I’ll get that opportunity.”
And with perfect timing, he showcased his talent in front of former England bowler Geoff Arnold who won 34 Test caps in a career in which he took more than 1,100 first-class wickets. Now one of the ECB’s fast bowling scouts, he readily acknowledged Porter’s promise.
“His performance was as good as I’ve seen this season,” Arnold enthused. “He moved the ball both ways and his line and length was exceptional. He’s also bowling with a bit more pace than when I last saw him and that is something which can only help him become even better.
“Of course, he has some way to go to get to the next level, but the signs are good. I understand that he’s a lad who works hard on his game and that can only help him and his county to make a greater impact in the months ahead.”