Michael Porter hits out [Terry Nash]
The ECB Southern Premier Division’s longest serving captain is standing down after six and a half years at the helm.
Michael Porter has skippered Bashley (Rydal) since June 2015 – and led the New Forest club to the Premier title in 2019, having finished runners-up two seasons earlier.
He explained: “It was an incredibly difficult decision to make, but for work reasons I’ve relocated from my Parley home to Bridgwater (where he makes cricket bats for World Class Willow), which makes it nigh impossible to carry out all the duties a Southern League captain has to undertake.
“As anyone who has captained sides at Premier League level will tell you, its far from tossing a coin on a Saturday afternoon and running the game.
“It’s a really hands-on role, with meetings to attend, selection calls to make and all the admin – and that’s on top of training and then skippering in a competitive environment every Saturday.”
Porter reckons he’s captained in 82 SPL matches, during which time Bashley not only lifted the Premier crown in 2019, but also won the 50-over pennant and twice had the best record in all-day ‘time’ cricket (2016 and 2019).
The 26-year old hasn’t exactly been idle in that time, scoring over 4,000 Premier Division runs, including three hundreds and over 25 scores of fifty or more.
“I captained the Hampshire Academy side before I joined Bashley, so I’ve had 7-half years wearing the armband in the ten seasons I’ve been playing, so may be its time for a rest ?,” he continued.
“I’ve been fortunate to play for a wonderful club at Bashley, one that boasts the best batting track and outfield, and is fantastically well organised.
“The lads – 62 of them have played under me - have always provided great support and given me total backing.
“I will forever be grateful to John Neal (chairman) for installing the trust in me as a 20-year old to lead a club which has five league teams, an adult playing squad of well over 60 players and engaged some tip top overseas players over the years.”
Michael Porter has skippered Bashley (Rydal) since June 2015 – and led the New Forest club to the Premier title in 2019, having finished runners-up two seasons earlier.
He explained: “It was an incredibly difficult decision to make, but for work reasons I’ve relocated from my Parley home to Bridgwater (where he makes cricket bats for World Class Willow), which makes it nigh impossible to carry out all the duties a Southern League captain has to undertake.
“As anyone who has captained sides at Premier League level will tell you, its far from tossing a coin on a Saturday afternoon and running the game.
“It’s a really hands-on role, with meetings to attend, selection calls to make and all the admin – and that’s on top of training and then skippering in a competitive environment every Saturday.”
Porter reckons he’s captained in 82 SPL matches, during which time Bashley not only lifted the Premier crown in 2019, but also won the 50-over pennant and twice had the best record in all-day ‘time’ cricket (2016 and 2019).
The 26-year old hasn’t exactly been idle in that time, scoring over 4,000 Premier Division runs, including three hundreds and over 25 scores of fifty or more.
“I captained the Hampshire Academy side before I joined Bashley, so I’ve had 7-half years wearing the armband in the ten seasons I’ve been playing, so may be its time for a rest ?,” he continued.
“I’ve been fortunate to play for a wonderful club at Bashley, one that boasts the best batting track and outfield, and is fantastically well organised.
“The lads – 62 of them have played under me - have always provided great support and given me total backing.
“I will forever be grateful to John Neal (chairman) for installing the trust in me as a 20-year old to lead a club which has five league teams, an adult playing squad of well over 60 players and engaged some tip top overseas players over the years.”
It didn't take Porter too long before he realised how tough skippering a Southern Premier League side would be.
“My first game as a rookie Bashley captain was at Havant midway through the 2015 season when Richard Morris stood down.
“I won the toss and chose to bowl. Havant got 220-odd and bowled us out for just over 100, so I quickly realised captaining an adult cricket club wasn’t as easy as I thought.
“Thankfully, it only got better from there and between 2017 and 2019 we won all the trophies, with my biggest achievement was winning the Premier League itself with an incredible team. I’m not sure I will ever beat that season.
“We finished a disappointing fourth last season, missing Brad Currie and Tom Friend for large chunks of the season, but I’m sure Bashley will continue to go from strength to strength, irrespective of who takes over from me.”
Bashley (Rydal) expect to name Porter’s replacement shortly. They hold their AGM at the BCG this (Friday) evening.
“My first game as a rookie Bashley captain was at Havant midway through the 2015 season when Richard Morris stood down.
“I won the toss and chose to bowl. Havant got 220-odd and bowled us out for just over 100, so I quickly realised captaining an adult cricket club wasn’t as easy as I thought.
“Thankfully, it only got better from there and between 2017 and 2019 we won all the trophies, with my biggest achievement was winning the Premier League itself with an incredible team. I’m not sure I will ever beat that season.
“We finished a disappointing fourth last season, missing Brad Currie and Tom Friend for large chunks of the season, but I’m sure Bashley will continue to go from strength to strength, irrespective of who takes over from me.”
Bashley (Rydal) expect to name Porter’s replacement shortly. They hold their AGM at the BCG this (Friday) evening.
Happy Days. Michael Porter with the 2019 ECB Southern Premier Division trophy.
