The north east of England has produced some incredible sports people, from Alan Shearer to Steve Cram, and Matt Potts hopes to become another.
The Durham fast bowler is part of the England squad currently taking on the West Indies in a three-match Test series and is pushing for involvement in the XI.
The 25-year-old from Sunderland is seen as the future of English Test cricket and has big boots to fill now that James Anderson has retired.
Anderson played the final Test of his career in July 2024 against the Windies at Lord’s, and with him and Stuart Broad gone, the path has opened up for Potts to get into the England side.
However, he knows that won’t be easy and has a clear aim of what to do.
Speaking exclusively to the talkSPORT Cricket YouTube channel, he said: “As a fast bowler, your currency is wickets, but it’s also bowling hard overs, making sure you are fully fit, putting your hand up for the team and making sure your speeds are up and aren’t dropping too much.
“I know Rob Key [ECB’s managing director] has mentioned he wants the speeds up there. The wicket tally doesn’t mean anything if your pace is down.
“It’s about sticking my hand up, taking big wickets for the team, contributing to wins and keeping my speeds up.”
It has been more than two years since Potts first burst onto the scene for the England Test team.
The seamer made his debut at Lord’s against New Zealand. His first wicket in Test cricket was Black Caps captain Kane Williamson, and he ended the innings with staggering figures of 4/13.
Potts played the rest of that summer against New Zealand, India and South Africa and ended with 20 wickets.
And after getting that initial taste, he knows that’s where his future lies.
“I want to be a full-time England cricketer, be on every tour and contribute in all formats for England.
“You don’t realise what you have until you are left out and on the edge of the fold.
“It can either set you back or inspire hunger, and for me, it definitely drives me on. I have that desire to play for my country again, and any opportunity I get to wear the Three Lions [shirt], I’ll be excited and proud.”
Being from the north east, football is the region’s biggest sport, and Potts happened to go to the same school as one of England’s Euro 2024 heroes, Jordan Pickford.
The pair – five years apart in age – both went to St Robert’s of Newminster in Washington, and Potts wants to emulate Pickford’s achievements only in cricket.
“They didn’t talk too much about him [Pickford].
“Obviously, growing up and having aspirations to be a sporting professional, there was mention of that.
“They knew I played cricket for Durham, and it was very much like, ‘You need to do your studies; otherwise, you are not going to be like him’.
“Then I was thinking to myself, ‘Did Jordan really stick in at school? I don’t know.’
“His mother used to work on reception, so I would have a couple of passing conversations with her, and he would pop into the Sixth Form, and everyone would say, ‘Wow, it’s Jordan. ‘
“So, it’s nice to come from a place where there have been other sporting heroes, and hopefully, they look at me that way now.”
However, despite those Pickford connections, it’s a famous English cricketer Potts idolises, and he gets to work with him during The 100 season at the Northern Superchargers.
When asked who is sporting icons were, he said: “Freddie Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen. [I am] probably leaning more towards Flintoff now that he’s the [Northern] Superchargers head coach.
“Having the chance to work with him is a surreal moment because you see your sporting hero and speak to them, and they are not what you imagine them to be.
“Freddie’s great.”
So, Potts has many inspirations, and he’s determined to be an England Test cricketer.
Couple that determination with his ridiculous skillset, and England might have the heir to Anderson’s throne.
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