A little bit tear in eye: Matty Potts about his dream Test debut

IT was a dream international debut for Matthew Potts at Lord’s against New Zealand on Thursday (2) as the right-hand medium-fast bowler picked four wickets starting with the one of Kane Williamson, the captain of the visiting team and the current World Test champions.

The Durham-born quickie ended up with 4 for 13 after coming one change to back England’s reputed opening duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad. He bowled 9.2 overs to claim his scalps and bowled four maiden overs.

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England also had a bad day with the bat as they were reduced to 116 for 7 in reply to New Zealand’s 132 on the first day. But yet, Potts’s achievement was something that did not get lost amid the disappointment of not being able to bat the Black Caps out of the game.

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After the day’s game, Potts spoke to Sky Sports News where he reflected on his grand debut, acknowledged his family’s contribution behind his success and also conceded that he had a little bit of a tear in his eyes in the morning.

The 23-year-old got his maiden Test cap after an impressive start to the County Championship season in which he gave enough hints about his potential as a seam bowler.

Potts, who is a graduate from the Durham academy, won England Under-19 recognition as a youngster and made an impressive debut in white-ball cricket in 2019 by taking 17 wickets in the Blast. He continued with his good work in the shorter formats of the game and did well in the Hundred. But 2022 saw Potts delivering with the red cherry as he picked 35 wickets in his first six matches to get into the national team.

The bowler is not an express fast bowler but has the capability of creating bounce from a good length through his height.

He has studied at St Robert of Newminster Catholic School and Sixth Form College and joins Jordan Pickford as a sporting alumnus.