Two years ago Jamie Porter had virtually given up on forging a career in cricket, but after bagging almost 50 County Championship wickets this season, former England batsman Mark Butcher is tipping him to become Essex’s leading man.

The Leytonstone-born bowler had been playing in the Essex Premier League with occasional appearances for the County’s second string.

But fast forward to the 2015 season and Porter has claimed 49 scalps at an average of 27.65 to put Essex within a whisker of promotion to Division One.

And Butcher is glad LV= Breakthrough Player Award nominee Porter opted to stick at it and is now reaping the rewards.

“Fast bowling is a difficult job,” said Butcher, who scored eight centuries in 71 Test matches for England.

“It’s very hard on the body and it’s very hard on the mind.

“You have to keep driving yourself forward to get out of bed in the morning when the legs are falling off and going out there and playing again.

“It’s terrific for Jamie and for Essex that he’s managed to turn things around for himself, and 50 wickets, even if it is in Division Two, is no mean feat whatsoever.

“Essex have been in need of something like that, in need of young talent at the club to call upon.”

With fellow seamer Reece Topley set to depart Chelmsford for Hampshire next season, Essex will be in need of someone new to spearhead their bowling attack.

And Butcher is backing 22-year-old Porter to take on that responsibility as the six-time county champions seek a return to the top flight.

“It’s been a really good breakthrough season for him,” Butcher added.

“He will perhaps find himself in a position next year where there might be a bit of a regime change going on at Essex whereby they’re really looking to start to push on and become one of the sides that gains promotion.

“Who knows, he might be the guy who drives them towards that.

“There is more pressure and more responsibility on him, especially with Reece Topley leaving.

“But I think when he looks back over the course of the summer, looks at where he’s come from, he should be really proud of those efforts.

“And a good winter in the gym, a good winter getting some technical stuff done and who knows where he might end up next year.”

For more reaction and a look back at this season’s LV= County Championship visit LV.com/cricket