"We aren't looking to just make up the numbers" : William Porterfield

[Abdullah719]

Rated as one of Ireland's finest batsmen, William Porterfield has lead Ireland since his appointment as captain in 2008. His credentials as Ireland's leading run-scorer in ODIs and T20Is are backed by an impressive tally of 4188 runs in 162 matches and include a memorable victory against arch-rivals England in the 2011 World Cup.

In an interview, William Porterfield spoke about the positive implications of Ireland's elevation to the level of a Test playing nation, looked forward to playing Tests against Pakistan and the prospect of facing the likes of Mohammad Amir and Yasir Shah, the return of international cricket to Pakistan and explained what it would mean for his side and the Irish fans to face England in a Test match in Ireland.

PakPassion.net: You must be delighted and excited about Ireland being granted Test status?

William Porterfield: It's great news and it's something we have been working towards for quite a while, so to have it all confirmed and for everyone to know exactly what is happening is great news for the country and everyone involved in Irish cricket.


PakPassion.net: Ireland is a nation of sports-lovers, do you therefore believe that cricket can compete with the other sports that are so popular in Ireland?

William Porterfield: Yes I think it can and it will. There's a great onus on us players to put in the performances and to keep trying to entertain. The Board and the Chief Executive Warren Deutrom are being very ambitious in their plans about where they want Cricket Ireland to go. They want to make cricket in Ireland a mainstream sport and that's a big statement because you've got a lot of other sports to compete with such as football, Gaelic football and Rugby. So it's very difficult to potentially compete with those sports, but that's where we want to go and what we want to do. If anyone had said we would be where we are now, a lot of people would have had a bit of a chuckle. I think nothing is beyond where we can go and where cricket can go in Ireland.


PakPassion.net: Do you think Ireland is ready for Test cricket?

William Porterfield: I think it's important to realise it's not just about being granted Test status. Rather it's about being given Full Member status and receiving the benefits of the extra funding that it will bring, which in turn, will allow us to improve the infrastructure of Irish cricket. This extra funding will go a long way to help us improve as a team and help us become competitive in the Test arena. It will also help make us competitive across all formats which is the most important thing.


PakPassion.net: Which do you see as the key areas that the additional funding should be invested in?

William Porterfield: The biggest thing for ourselves is to improve our facilities and to have the chance to train and play full-time. A lot of people playing in our first-class structure are working as well and what happens is that we potentially lose out on players featuring for Ireland because they have to forge a career elsewhere. So investing in this infrastructure and getting people on contracts and also more of the cricketers on contracts so they can train and play full-time is very important. These players will not improve if they aren't playing cricket full-time. A combination of improving the facilities and getting players on full-time contracts will hopefully go a long way to making us a lot better.


PakPassion.net: Do you envisage more cricketers in Ireland taking up the game on a full-time basis in future?

William Porterfield: I'd like to think that will be one of the things that comes out of Ireland being granted Test status, but we want people to be good enough as well. We have to go down the route of a first-class structure and be fully professional but that is not going to happen overnight. Hopefully there is room for that to happen as early as next year, even if it's only on 6 month contracts for the players initially during the summer, which will be massive as that will see players playing and training full-time.


PakPassion.net: How important is it for the additional funds to be utilised at the grass roots level of cricket in Ireland?

William Porterfield: Yes all this has to filter through to the grass roots level of Irish cricket. At the moment our club cricket isn't necessarily producing international cricketers. We've got to give players the pathway to the provincial system and then onto first-class cricket which will allow them to get picked up for the national side. Hopefully our first-class system will prepare our cricketers for international cricket. But at the moment as we are not full-time professionals and there are no contracts, we are in danger of losing cricketers that are essentially good enough now or will be in the next couple of years. We have to be in a position where instead of having a core of 15-20 players selected for Ireland, we need to increase that to 30 plus who are really challenging to make an Irish squad of 15 or the starting eleven. I think this all needs to filter though the system and we can then start having a system where our cricket is naturally competitive.


PakPassion.net: Do you agree that Test status should mean that Ireland do not lose their best players such as Eoin Morgan to England?

William Porterfield: I think those days are gone now. A few years ago we didn't have the option of playing Test cricket or even actually making a career of and earning a living as a cricketer in Ireland, so hopefully that has changed now. I don't think the players will have that decision to make in that sense as long as things are done right and I think there will be a pathway to forge a career in Irish cricket both domestically and internationally for the players.


PakPassion.net: By and large new teams come into Test cricket and really struggle. Do you see a tough few years initially for Ireland in the 5-day format?

William Porterfield: If you look at any side that has come into Test cricket, Bangladesh being the latest and even going back to New Zealand and Sri Lanka, it's not an easy place to come in and stamp your mark straight away. We know that, but a lot of our guys have a lot of experience playing county cricket and that's where a lot of our current group of cricketers come from. Hopefully once we improve the first-class structure that will help, but we aren't going to make no bones about it, it will be difficult. For example look at our first Test match fixture against Pakistan and look at how many Test matches they have already played. They know what it's all about and they've had that experience and we will be relying on what we've gained in domestic cricket to stand us in good stead.


PakPassion.net: You mention Pakistan as your first Test opponents. The thought of facing up to the likes of Mohammad Amir and Yasir Shah must be an exciting proposition?

William Porterfield: Yes, that's what we want, to face the best players in the world. Obviously when he's on song Mohammad Amir is one of the best bowlers in the world. It will be a great test for us and this is why we want to play Test cricket because it challenges your mental strength and technique. It will be a great experience for ourselves to be involved in, but we aren't looking to just make up the numbers, we will want to be competitive and looking to find a way to win that first Test.


PakPassion.net: The historic Test match will take place in May in conditions that will be unfamiliar to Pakistan. That will surely be an advantage for you and your team mates?

William Porterfield: We never know what we are going to get regarding the weather in Ireland. It will be nice to play Test cricket with the sun out, but let's see. Whatever the weather, we will want to take full advantage of playing in our home conditions and make full use of the familiarity we will have in those conditions and try to make it as uncomfortable for Pakistan as we possibly can.


PakPassion.net: Speaking of Pakistan, international cricket has resumed there with Sri Lanka playing a T20I in Lahore. Your thoughts on the return of international cricket to Pakistan and is it a place that you would want to tour in the future?

William Porterfield: The sub-continent is a fantastic place to play cricket and I'm sure Pakistan is no different. You don't want to see a nation like Pakistan not having international cricket at home. I've been lucky enough to play cricket in Asia and the crowds there are great. Hopefully things will pass of safely and Pakistan gets what it deserves which is the return of international cricket. Hopefully everything passes of peacefully in the coming tours and months and it's only going to be a great thing for not only Pakistan but world cricket to see international cricket returning to Pakistan on a regular basis.


PakPassion.net: You'll be hoping that Pakistan is the first of many high-profile teams touring Ireland in the coming years?

William Porterfield: Very much so and hopefully across all formats as well. Let's get things up and running and get ourselves in the Future Tours Program and we will have guaranteed fixtures for the public in Ireland which will be huge. There will be a lot of interest in the Test format in Ireland but these tours will incorporate cricket across all formats and as we all know the Twenty20 format is very popular as is One-Day cricket. Hopefully all this cricket and tours will have a positive knock-on effect for cricket in Ireland with fans supporting different formats. As long as the number of fans is increasing, that will put us in a better place.


PakPassion.net: Playing a Test match against England in Ireland will be the ultimate dream for many of the Irish players won't it?

William Porterfield: Yes that will be massive. It'll be a great sporting occasion. Ireland against England in any sport is huge and it will be no different in Test cricket. That'll be one the fans will pencil into their diaries and get down to see that fixture for sure. Let's hope that day is not too far away when England play a Test match in Ireland.

 

[hadi123]

Good player making some good points . I look forward to Ireland's test match debut against Pakistan and hope cricket grows there.

 

[MenInG]

Ireland with a great chance to make some points in the inaugural Test in May at home.

 

[Donal Cozzie]

Gonna be an extremely tough few years, especially with half the budget of any other FM, but here's hoping some good memories to be had along with the bad

 

[Saj]

I really admire the Irish cricketer's attitude and the way they approach international cricket.

Also a great bunch of guys to interview.

I recall going to cover Ireland v Pakistan ODIs a few years ago and the hospitality was superb.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

They just to find some fast medium bowlers to compete. Batsmen will come along.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

I really admire the Irish cricketer's attitude and the way they approach international cricket.

Also a great bunch of guys to interview.

I recall going to cover Ireland v Pakistan ODIs a few years ago and the hospitality was superb.

Agreed. Irish people in general are a cool bunch.

 

[Donal Cozzie]

They just to find some fast medium bowlers to compete. Batsmen will come along.

Its our batting that has flopped more often vs FM's recently though.

The current U19 bunch have lots of bowling talent, with Delany being looked at by the Hobart Hurricanes bowling coach and he reckons he can clock 90mph.

Gonna be a tough few years but the improvements will come over time due to full membership

 

[Saj]

So it's Malahide.

Hope the weather holds up.

 

[MenInG]

More than making up numbers here! Giving Pakistan a proper fright.

 

[Saj]

Tough yet likeable sportsmen the Irish.

Play hard but play fair.

Great attitude and always admired them.

 

[hadi123]

Finishes on 23* in the 2nd innings. If he makes a big score, he could play a role in a famous result.

 

[Kroll]

Although I want Pakistan to win, it was great to see Ireland putting up a fight in the 2nd innings.

 

[MenInG]

Ireland’s maiden Test match was a game that had been discussed and anticipated for almost a year, and worked towards for more than 10. For an experienced group of Irish players it marked the culmination of their careers, something many of them thought might never happen.

It was an occasion filled with emotion and though Ireland didn’t win, having pushed Pakistan as close as they did, captain William Porterfield couldn’t have been happier with his team’s efforts.

“I’m extremely proud of how we went about it,” he said after the end of the game. “All five days it was a hell of an effort. It was our first Test match and it was tough on the first day, we struggled a bit with the emotions. There were 11 caps being handed out, we had all our family and friends here and with all the build up to the game there were a lot of emotions for every lad, so to go out and start how we did was fantastic.

"We carried that through pretty much throughout that first day and throughout the game really, putting aside when we went out to bat in the first innings, I’m sure a lot of the lads would like to have that opportunity again.”

The game swung on that period when Ireland’s first innings began. Having bowled well to restrict Pakistan to 310, all of a sudden they found themselves 7/4. The collapse would prove decisive, but Porterfield was delighted with how his side battled back.

“I know from a personal level the heart was beating a little bit faster than it normally would [at the start of the second innings]. We’re only human, I’m not blaming it for our downfall in any way but there were always going to be a few nerves around. But the way we put that right with the fight in the second innings to get through to the close none down on day three was great.

"And the next day really belonged to Kevin [O'Brien], especially after losing four wickets in the first session. Thommo [Stuart Thompson] played fantastically well as well as did [Tyrone] Kane facing almost 100 balls to support him, but it’s Kev’s day. It’s a hell of an effort to score a hundred on debut, under the pump. He showed the character and fight we talked about. To go out and make a big one was great to see and I’m delighted for him.”

The century gave Ireland an outside chance of victory, but after wickets tumbled at the start of day five, Pakistan rallied to claim the win by five wickets. “It would have been nice to get an extra few runs this morning but at 14/3 we were sitting there thinking we’ve got a proper sniff against a quality line-up. If we’d got another couple then and broken that partnership a bit earlier it could have been game on, but how the lads acquitted themselves throughout the five days I can’t fault anyone at all.”

Porterfield pinpointed Ireland’s fighting spirit as the main positive to take away from their performance. “The biggest thing was how we fought back with the bat in the second innings,” he said. “That shows the character that we’ve had. It’s something that’s been talked about through big occasions like World Cups, how we’ve acquitted ourselves there. I think that’s always been known to be there.

“But Test cricket is Test cricket for a reason, it’s there in the name; you do get tested and we were after the first innings. We could have gone back out and with 25-30 overs left at the end of day three Pakistan could have knocked a few over then and people would have had different thoughts about the game. How we went about that to get up close to 350 just showed what we’ve got in the changing rooms and the passion that we’ve got.”

With the Test match over, thoughts turn to the future. Ireland’s XI contained seven players who were aged 32 or older, presumably closer to the end of their careers than the start. Porterfield has faith that the next crop of players will be ready to take their place.

“I’m very confident in the next generation,” he said. “I’ve spent a lot of time in the last month seeing the depth we have up close and personal. The young lads are coming through and putting their hands up. There is that depth there, they just need to get cricket under their belts to give them the belief that they can play at this level. You see some of the raw talent and think that they could be unbelievable cricketers but we just need to expose them and get them in in the right way.

“It can be a harsh environment out there. When I made my debut we didn’t have as much media coverage or people scrutinising techniques. Now there’s going to be people making their debuts in Test matches, in T20 Internationals in front of 10,000 people against India and a lot of extra pressure comes with that. We need to get cricket under their belts but the talent is definitely there.”

Looking even further into the future, Porterfield feels that this first Test match and the nature of Ireland’s performance will have done much to plant the seed of the game into the hearts and minds of many children.

“I’m sure in the next week or two there’s going to be hundreds of kids aspiring to be Kevin O’Brien in backstreet cricket. We’ve got to inspire the next generation like we got inspired growing up by the likes of Dekker Curry where I’m from. I looked up to him when I was growing up and I’m sure there’s a lot of young cricketers doing the same to ourselves.

"The more we can spread the game, the more bums on seats there’s going to be here, the more depth we’re going to have. This Test match has gone a long way to providing the next generation of cricketers I’m sure.”

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/691235

 

[MenInG]

Andrew Balbirnie will take over as Ireland captain in Tests and one-day internationals after the long-serving William Porterfield stepped down, Cricket Ireland announced on Friday, 8 November.

Porterfield has been captain of the side since 2008, having taken over from Trent Johnston, and has captained Ireland 253 times. According to Cricket Ireland, he is the longest-serving national captain in an Irish team sport. Porterfield will also go down in history as Ireland’s first ever Test captain.

Porterfield, 35, wants the captaincy transition to Balbirnie to be as smooth as possible ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League, starting next year. “I feel, and in consultation with Cricket Ireland, that now is the right time to hand over that mantle,” said Porterfield. “With the ODI league starting in the summer, it will allow Balbo time to get into the swing of things.

“I feel that the selectors have made a great choice in appointing Balbo and that it has come at a great time for him personally being on top of his game, and with more to come. Having spoken to him, I know how honoured and excited he is to get going. I’m looking forward to helping and supporting Balbo in any way I can, and seeing him lead Ireland forward.”

Balbirnie will become Ireland’s fifth ODI captain, and their second in Tests. After making his debut in 2010, he went on to become a key figure in the side, and at 28, will look to take Ireland through the next few steps in their rise as an international cricketing force.

He will first captain the side when Ireland take on West Indies in the Caribbean from January, with matches against Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe set to follow.

“Since 2008, William [Porterfield] has been an amazing leader on and off the field, not just to me but anyone who has been lucky to represent Ireland,” said Balbirnie. “Taking over from our greatest captain will certainly be a hard act to follow, but one I’m looking forward to getting into. William still has a huge role to play in this team going forward and I look forward to working with him over the next couple of years.”

“We are very lucky that we are entering arguably the most exciting period to be an Irish cricketer, so to be able to lead the guys into this will be a great honour and challenge, and one that I’m looking forward to immensely.”

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1487435

 

[MenInG]

DUBLIN – Cricket Ireland has today confirmed that Andrew Balbirnie will assume captaincy of the Ireland Men’s T20 International team.

After discussions between Gary Wilson and the national selectors and with a view to the future, Balbirnie - recently announced as the new Test and ODI captain - will succeed Wilson as Ireland’s T20I captain.


Gary Wilson said:

“It was an absolute honour to be asked to captain Ireland - it was something that I dreamt about as a child. When I took on the job 18 months ago it was always the remit to qualify for the world cup and re-assess from there. I'm very much looking forward to continuing as a player and working with Balbo in the future. I think it will prove to be a great appointment and believe that it is important that he, as a captain, has control of all three sides and gets to take it in a direction that he sees fit.”


Andrew White, Chairman of National Men’s Selectors, said:

“Gary’s tenure as captain has been a largely successful time for the T20 squad, rising in the rankings from 18th to 14th, winning a Tri-Series and qualifying for the T20 World Cup, all while bringing through a number of exciting new players.”

“However, both Gary and the Selectors believe that Andrew Balbirnie should have the opportunity to forge his leadership style and his standards across all three formats. Whilst he was announced as Test Match and ODI captain a few weeks ago, after consultation with the selectors and Gary it was agreed by all that with similar players likely to be utilised across all formats it was important that Andrew was allowed to stamp his mark on the new generation of players coming through.”

“Gary has been an inspirational leader and our qualification was largely down to his attention to detail in planning and getting the best out of his players in a short space of time. We thank Gary for his candour and professionalism during this process. He will remain an integral part of the international setup as we continue to build this exciting group of young players.”


Graham Ford, Head Coach of Ireland Men’s cricket team, said:

“Gary has been an exceptional leader of this young squad over the last 18 months, and it has been his experience, incredible passion for Irish cricket and clarity of thinking that has been the major contribution to the team’s exciting progress over the last 18 months and qualifying for the T20 World Cup. It is a mark of Gary’s professionalism that he has understood the interests of the team, and wholeheartedly committed his full support to Andrew in his newly consolidated leadership role.”

 

[MenInG]

Irish cricket legend William Porterfield has today announced his retirement from international and representative cricket – leaving the game with many records and memorable performances, including being the longest-serving Ireland Men’s captain by some considerable distance.

Porterfield, 37, amassed 310 caps (across all formats) for Ireland after making his international debut in a First-class match against Namibia in May 2006. He ends his career as the third most capped Irish international and second-highest run-scorer for Ireland.

The left-handed top-order batter, who started out playing his club cricket with Donemana, struck the first of his 18 centuries for Ireland against the MCC in a one-day match at Lord’s in August 2006, going on to register 9,507 runs for Ireland at an average of 31.07, and a best of 186 against Namibia in 2015.

Of his more iconic innings, Irish fans fondly remember his 107 against Pakistan in Adelaide at the 2015 Men’s World Cup and his 112 against England in an ODI at Malahide in 2013 as two of his best knocks

A renowned slip fielder and inner-ring fielder, he also took 146 catches and effected 24 run outs during his international career.

Porterfield made the move early to base himself in England, after featuring for the MCC Young Cricketers, and had a successful county career with Gloucestershire and Warwickshire. In latter years, he became a stalwart of the North West Warriors in the Inter-Provincial Series in Ireland, showing his enduring run-scoring abilities finishing fourth-highest run-scorer in both the domestic 50-over and T20 competitions in 2021.

As a captain, Porterfield led the senior Irish side an incredible 253 times - taking over from former skipper Trent Johnston in 2008 at the age of 23 (the second-most appearances as Irish captain was Johnston with 60). Adding to his longevity in leadership roles, Porterfield had also led national youth sides from Under-13s level upwards, and also took the reins of an ICC Combined Associate and Affiliate XI side that played an England XI in 2012. He led Ireland to two 50-over World Cups and five T20 World Cups, but perhaps his most significant moment as captain was leading Ireland Men’s team out at its historic first-ever Test match in May 2018.

Speaking from home about his retirement announcement, Porterfield said:

“It’s been an honour to represent my country for 16 years – it’s something I had always wanted to do since I was a child. I have to say, though, it’s a little surreal at the moment having made the decision to step away and retire, but I’ve been fortunate to play since 2006 and it’s been an incredible journey.

“During my career, we’ve gone from an amateur team right through to now being a Test nation. From those before me, and along my journey, we have hopefully built an infrastructure that will allow the game in Ireland to continue to flourish. All I ever wanted to do was leave the shirt in a better place and leave the team in a better place, and hopefully I’ve played a part in doing that.

“As I said, it feels a little surreal today, but I also feel the time is right to be stepping away – I’ve been given the opportunity to join Gloucestershire as a Consultant Coach until the end of the season, and these opportunities don’t come around very often. It’s a decision I’ve been thinking long and hard about over the last week or so – and I’d like to thank Cricket Ireland for allowing me to get up and going in the role over the last while. Coaching is something I’d like to be involved in next, and after talking to my fiancé Hayley, my dad and a few other people I have decided to pursue this opportunity.

“There are so many memories that I will take away from my career, but one of my most treasured memories is receiving my first cap from the great Roy Torrens. Roy is a legend in Irish cricket, and up until he unfortunately passed away, he was pretty much at every one of my games in some capacity. He epitomised what Cricket Ireland and Irish cricket was to me, really someone I looked up to.

“Then there’s Sabina Park – where I played my last match for Ireland. It’s the ground where a lot of people say put Irish cricket on the map. That ground holds so many memories for me, right through from the Pakistan win in 2007 to walking off the field back in January having beaten the West Indies 2-1. In the build up to the games, a lot of the younger members of the squad were reminiscing as to where they were when we beat Pakistan on that day, and how that inspired them, and that was a lot of what it was about for me. The realisation for me that I was the only surviving member of that team on the pitch that day was when Mackey, our liaison officer from the 2007 World Cup, called from the stand to say hello and asked who else was here from that trip! It was only Nobby who was there on comms at the games, so that did make me feel a little old!

“There are so many people I’d like to thank for being part of my cricket journey, my parents for everything over the years, Hayley my fiancé, Lily my step-daughter for their sacrifices over the years, and the many teammates and coaches.

“I have had so many great coaches - right through from junior cricket to now. Brían O’Rourke was one who was there looking after us from a very young age. He took us on a lot of tours, helped us develop – he’s been a great coach and presence in Irish Cricket over the years and helped to mentor many of my age that came through. There’s Adi Birrell who gave me my debut and gave me belief that I could make it as a professional cricketer. There’s Simmo [Phil Simmons] who really helped me through some hard times especially around the leadership after I had taken over at a relatively young age. Bracers who I enjoyed working with at GCCC and Ireland. And then there’s Fordy [Graham Ford] who has had a great impact on the squad that is coming through. And now Heinrich [Malan] who is taking Irish cricket into an exciting stage.

“When I think of all my teammates I played with, there are just too many to thank individually. But to get to play with close mates for so long like Gary Wilson, Paul Stirling Balbo [Andrew Balbirnie] and Scra [Andy McBrine], Kev [O’Brien], Boyd [Rankin], Joycey [Ed Joyce], Murts [Tim Murtagh] but to name a few, having those lads around for so long was brilliant. Then going back to those in TJ’s era – playing with the likes of Kyle [McCallan] and Whitey [Andrew White], as well as John Boy [John Mooney] – really everyone I played with over such a long time I just want to say thanks.

“I would also like to that Cricket Ireland as an organisation for giving me the backing and support to not only play for my country for so long, but captain my country for 11 and a half years.

“I would like to say a special thank you to Gloucestershire CCC and Warwickshire CCC for giving me the opportunity to learn and develop my game over a 10 year spell in County Cricket. To have the opportunity to win every domestic trophy in England, is something I’ll always treasure.

“I’d like to also thank all of those at Cricket Ireland and the North West Cricket Union. Richard Holdsworth and Warren Deutrom have been fantastic support, while in the North West, people like Peter McCartney, Ian McGregor, Gary Wilson and big Boyd who is coaching now have been immense. Both Cricket Ireland and the North West have helped me get a start in my coaching journey, and for that I am grateful.

“Finally, the journey from amateur to fully-contracted players – both men and women - in Ireland has been rewarding one for all involved, and when it comes to player welfare and support another project I am proud of is playing a part in getting the Irish Cricketers Association set up. As a professional cricketer in England, I could see the way the PCA really supports the players, and it really helped lay the foundations for the ICA to take on a similar role here in Ireland. Looking after player welfare, not only during a playing career, but providing support after – the PCA have been great at that, and that is the direction the ICA is going. I look forward to seeing the ICA grow over coming years.”


Andrew Balbirnie, Ireland Men’s captain, said:

“It’s a huge loss when an absolute pillar of the game calls time on his career. William has been an amazing person to have in the dressing room, as a player and as a person. A lot of the foundations that were laid for this current Irish team were done by him and teams that came before us.

“He always epitomised what we wanted to do as a team – his work ethic, his attitude on the pitch and his passion for the game. He’ll be a huge loss around the senior group, but we wish him well in his next stage of life, and hope he has an amazing time. Undoubtedly he’ll be a success at whatever path he chooses to go down.”


Gary Wilson, former Irish international, said:

“I’ve known William since we were 12 years old and there is no one that you would rather have by your side on the pitch. To walk out with him was to know that he had your back no matter what, whether you were playing your first game or your last. His sole objective was always to do what he thought was the right thing to win the game regardless of anything else.

“What he has done for Ireland over the past 16 years since he made his debut you simply cannot put into words. To lead the team for over 11 years after taking on the captaincy aged 23 is a phenomenal effort, and to have achieved the level of personal success whilst doing so is all the more remarkable. No one has had a greater impact on Ireland’s rise to the top table of international cricket.

“Everyone will be pointing to what a great ambassador for the sport and the country William has been, and rightly so - I’ve just been lucky enough to have had the closest of front row seats. I’ve no doubt his parents, William and Alison and his Partner Hayley and step-daughter Lily will be the proudest of people for what William has achieved and rightly so. Humble, loyal, tough, fair, selfless, I’m proud to have played alongside William but I’m even more proud to consider him my mate.”


Andrew White, Chair of National Men’s Selectors, said:

“It’s very difficult to put into words the impact that William has had on Irish cricket. Runs, runs and more runs but for me it was the character behind the man that will make him extremely hard to replace. Always gutsy, disciplined, determined and skilful but the team came first and he wanted nothing more than for Ireland to win games of cricket.

“He was always destined to become Ireland captain but leading us from associate cricket to that incredible first day at Lord’s against England is something he should be immensely proud of.

“One of the best fielders in the world game at the peak of his powers and he drove the standards around him to the extent where we were one of the best fielding teams around. His career in many ways can be summed up by his performances last summer where he fought through an injury to score 70-odd against South Africa followed by runs against Zimbabwe on bowler friendly and testing surfaces in must win World Cup Qualifying games. He handled pressure better than most.

“On a personal level it was fantastic to share some incredible moments on the field with him and the respect he is held in by team mates past and present is immense. We wish him every success as he moves forward into the next phase of life.”


Richard Holdsworth, High Performance Director at Cricket Ireland, said:

“It’s a sad day when any long-standing member of the senior squad steps away, but even more so when it’s William Porterfield. Sometimes the use of the word ‘legend’ is used too casually, but it absolutely applies in William’s case. His leadership over many years has been outstanding, not only his on-field captaincy, but his mentoring and coaching of many players has been of great benefit to the Irish game.

“Off the field he has been an ambassador for the sport in Ireland and around the world, and he has taken an active interest in player welfare and the formation of the Irish Cricketers Association.

“One aspect that fans may never have fully appreciated, but which demonstrated his commitment to Ireland and to his teammates was the endless travelling and juggling William willingly undertook to make himself available for Ireland. Despite his professional county commitments, William was rarely missing when Ireland played. Even to this very season, his commitment to Irish cricket was also through the playing, coaching and mentoring roles with the North West Warriors, as well as combining his playing duties with Ireland with a coaching consultancy role in the national set-up.

“I know that all of Cricket Ireland’s staff, Board Members and, in fact, the whole Irish cricket community hold William in extremely high regard and wish him well with the next stage in life.”