William Porterfield

William Thomas Stuart Porterfield (born 6 September 1984) is a Northern Irish cricketer and former captain of the Ireland cricket team.[1] He played first-class cricket for Gloucestershire and Warwickshire. A left-handed batsman, he has played for Ireland since 2006, and has captained Ireland at all levels from Under-13 and is considered as one of the greatest Irish cricketer of all time.[2] During Afghanistan T20I series in March 2017, he passed 1,000 runs in T20Is and became the first player for Ireland to do so.[3] In May 2018, he was named as the captain of Ireland's squad for their first ever Test match, against Pakistan.[4]

William Porterfield
Personal information
Full nameWilliam Thomas Stuart Porterfield
Born (1984-09-06) 6 September 1984
Donemana, Northern Ireland
Height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
BattingLeft-handed
BowlingRight-arm off break
RoleOpening batsman
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 7)11 May 2018 v Pakistan
Last Test24 July 2019 v England
ODI debut (cap 14)5 August 2006 v Scotland
Last ODI12 January 2020 v West Indies
T20I debut (cap 8)2 August 2008 v Scotland
Last T20I22 August 2018 v Afghanistan
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
2008–2010Gloucestershire
2007MCC
2010–2017Warwickshire
2017–presentNorth West Warriors
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI T20I FC
Matches 3 139 61 136
Runs scored 58 4,091 1,079 6,867
Batting average 9.66 30.75 20.35 31.64
100s/50s 0/0 11/17 0/3 11/34
Top score 32 139 72 207
Balls bowled – – – 108
Wickets – – – 2
Bowling average – – – 69.00
5 wickets in innings – – – 0
10 wickets in match – – – 0
Best bowling – – – 1/29
Catches/stumpings 2/– 64/– 22/– 146/–
Source: ESPN Cricinfo, 21 April 2020

In December 2018, he was one of nineteen players to be awarded a central contract by Cricket Ireland for the 2019 season.[5][6] In July 2019, Porterfield scored his 4,000th run in ODI cricket and recorded his 50th win as captain of Ireland's One Day International team. In January 2020, he was one of nineteen players to be awarded a central contract from Cricket Ireland,[7] the first year in which all contracts were awarded on a full-time basis.[8] Later the same month, in the second ODI against the West Indies, Porterfield played in his 300th international match for Ireland.[9]

International career

On 31 January 2007, he scored his maiden ODI century with an unbeaten 112 to guide his side to victory over Bermuda. He followed it up in his next game with 104 not out against Kenya. In the 2007 World Cup he was man of the match with 85 against Bangladesh during a Super Eight game, which Ireland won.[10]

Porterfield scored his maiden first-class century in late August 2007. In a match against Bermuda as part of the 2007–08 ICC Intercontinental Cup, Porterfield scored 166 runs from 326 balls.[11]

In the 2011 Cricket World Cup, Porterfield reached a fifty against the Netherlands. He hit 68 off 98 balls and helped his team to victory over the Netherlands.

Captaincy

Porterfield was appointed Ireland captain at the start of the 2008 season, succeeding Trent Johnston. Porterfield said "I've learnt a lot from Trent – he brought young players through, looked after them and he set an example by how he went about his game and how he prepared on and off the field. I may be young but I've plenty of experience of captaincy and I love it, being out there right in the mixer. I was vice-captain under Trent and I filled in when he was off the field so I've had a taste of it".[12]

Despite being Ireland's official captain, Porterfield chose to represent his county (Gloucestershire) instead of leading Ireland in their ODIs against Scotland and New Zealand in July 2008 in an attempt to secure a permanent position at Gloucestershire. He said "It's definitely the hardest decision I've ever had to make ... I feel it's the right decision for me at this stage in my career".[13]

Porterfield was one of seven Ireland players to be nominated for the 2009 Associate and Affiliate Player of the Year (there were fourteen nominees in all);[14] he eventually won the award. Speaking about the award, Portfield said "It's been a fantastic year for us. This award caps it off on a personal note but it's great for the team to be going to the World Cup having won the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier early this year. This award is great for Irish cricket and it shows how much we have done on the field. If we continue onwards and keep on making improvements in that department then other awards will follow." [15]

A side made up of some of the best players from Associate and Affiliate teams was put together to face England in Dubai in January 2012. The three-day match was part of England's preparation for a series against Pakistan later that month. Porterfield captained the squad and was one of four Ireland players included.[16]

2011 World Cup

Porterfield was selected in Ireland's 15-man squad for the 2011 World Cup.[17] He led them to a famous victory over England and to narrow defeats to Bangladesh, West Indies and India, as well as hitting the hundredth six of the tournament during the match against hosts India. He captained Ireland to a victory over the Netherlands.

Test cricket and beyond

In May 2018, Porterfield was named as the captain of a fourteen-man squad for Ireland's first ever Test match, which was played against Pakistan later the same month.[4][18] He made his Test debut for Ireland, against Pakistan, on 11 May 2018.[19][20]

In January 2019, he was named in Ireland's squad for their one-off Test against Afghanistan in India.[21][22]

In July 2019, Porterfield played in his 250th match as captain of Ireland, in the first ODI match against Zimbabwe, at Bready Cricket Club Ground in Magheramason.[23] In the third ODI of the series, Porterfield scored his 4,000th run in ODI cricket.[24] Ireland went on to win the series 3–0, their first clean-sweep in ODIs against a Full Member side.[25] With the victory in the third match, Porterfield recorded his 50th win as captain of Ireland in ODIs.[26]

On 10 July 2020, Porterfield was named in Ireland's 21-man squad to travel to England to start training behind closed doors for the ODI series against the England cricket team.[27][28]

Domestic career

Between 2004 and 2006, Porterfield played Second XI cricket for Durham, MCC Young Cricketers, Northamptonshire, Derbyshire and Kent.[29]

Porterfield attracted interest from Gloucestershire during the 2007 World Cup and was given a trial with the county in between international commitments. In the 2007 season, Porterfield became the first Irishman to score 1,000 runs in a calendar year, and towards the end of the season Gloucestershire offered him a two-year contract.[2][30][31]

He guided Ireland to their first victory against a county side in two years against Warwickshire with an innings of 69 from 110 balls.[32]

Porterfield was absent from Ireland's last two Friends Provident Trophy matches as he was called into the Gloucestershire squad, Kyle McCallan took over the role of captain.[33] After Gloucestershire batsman Craig Spearman sustained an injury, Porterfield was given the opportunity to play for Gloucestershire opening the batting.[13] He came close to scoring his maiden first-class century for Gloucestershire in a match against Glamorgan County Cricket Club in August 2008 but was out for 93.[34] On 10 September, he and Kadeer Ali shared in Gloucestershire's highest opening partnership of the season; he scored 66.[35]

In August 2010, he set a new career best in scoring 175 in the first innings of a County Championship Division Two match between Gloucestershire and Worcestershire at Cheltenham[36]

At the end of the season, Porterfield was one of several players to leave Gloucestershire. In October 2010 he signed a three-year contract with Warwickshire, joining fellow Ireland international Boyd Rankin.[37]

References
  1. "Will Porterfield steps down as Ireland captain, Andrew Balbirnie named as replacement". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  2. Barry Chambers (30 August 2007). "Porterfield gets deal with Gloucestershire". Irish Cricket Union. Retrieved 30 August 2008.
  3. "Afghanistan complete 3–0 whitewash over Ireland; extend winning streak to 11". Cricket County. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  4. "Ireland announce 14-man squad for historic first Test against Pakistan". Belfast Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  5. "19 men's central player contracts finalised ahead of busy 2019". Cricket Ireland. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  6. "Ireland women to receive first professional contracts". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  7. "Gareth Delany, Shane Getkate amongst 19 men's central player contracts offered ahead of a busy 2020". Cricket Ireland. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  8. "Delany, Getkate highlight Ireland men's central contracts list for 2020". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  9. "So close, yet…Ireland loses 1-wicket thriller to West Indies". Cricket Ireland. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  10. "ICC World Cup – 42nd match, Super Eights Bangladesh v Ireland". ESPNcricinfo. 15 April 2007. Retrieved 7 March 2008.
  11. "ff49951 Ireland v Bermuda: ICC Inter-Continental Cup 2007". CricketArchive.com. Retrieved 20 August 2009.
  12. "Porterfield takes charge". BBC Online. 23 April 2008. Retrieved 30 May 2008.
  13. Staff (24 June 2008). "Porterfield and O'Brien out for Ireland". Cricinfo. Retrieved 25 June 2008.
  14. Staff (2 September 2009). "Dhoni, Dilshan pick up maximum nominations". Cricinfo. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
  15. Staff (1 October 2010). "Porterfield named Associate Player of the Year". Retrieved 20 August 2010.
  16. Porterfield leads ICC side against England, Cricinfo, 16 December 2011, retrieved 18 December 2011
  17. Staff (19 January 2011). "Ireland pick Ed Joyce for World Cup". Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  18. "Ireland omit George Dockrell for historic first men's Test against Pakistan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  19. "Only Test, Pakistan tour of Ireland, England and Scotland at Dublin, May 11-15 2018". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  20. "Ireland win toss, opt to bowl in historic Test against Pakistan". Geo TV. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  21. "Ireland announce squads for Afghanistan series". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  22. "Stirling to captain Ireland T20 squad, new faces named for upcoming Oman and Afghanistan series". Cricket Ireland. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  23. "Rankin relishing Bready return". Cricket Europe. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  24. "ODI series: Ireland defeat Zimbabwe to complete ODI series whitewash". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  25. "McCollum and Murtagh seal Ireland's 3–0 sweep". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  26. "Ireland completes 3–0 clean sweep of ODI series against Zimbabwe". Cricket Ireland. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  27. "Curtis Campher, Jonathan Garth the new faces as Ireland name 21-man squad for England ODIs". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  28. "Ireland names expanded training squad ahead of ODI series against England". Cricket Ireland. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  29. Profile, pcboard.com.pk; accessed 22 March 2015.
  30. "Porterfield attracts Gloucester interest". ESPNcricinfo. 2 April 2007. Retrieved 30 August 2007.
  31. "Porterfield signs for Gloucestershire". ESPNcricinfo. 24 September 2007. Retrieved 28 September 2007.
  32. "Porterfield leads Ireland to win". BBC Online. 16 May 2008. Retrieved 30 May 2008.
  33. Cricket Ireland (22 May 2008). "Ireland hit by Porterfield withdrawal". Cricketeurope4.net. Retrieved 30 May 2008.
  34. "Porterfield denied landmark ton". BBC Online. 14 August 2008.
  35. "Glos stumble after opening stand". BBC Online. 10 September 2008. Retrieved 10 September 2008.
  36. Porterfield hundred end's Gloucestershire's wait, Cricinfo.com; accessed 22 March 2015.
  37. "Glos batsman Will Porterfield signs for Warwickshire". BBC Sport. 12 October 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
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