EXCLUSIVE Sam Cook, England's new star - by those who know him best: The model student who trains while everyone else is asleep - and why lack of pace means nothing as he eyes Ashes glory
Sam Cook had just turned 17 when he first came up against Jamie Porter in August 2014. Within three years the two would form a lethal new-ball pairing in county cricket, but for now they were rivals: Cook opening the bowling for Chelmsford in an Essex Premier League game at Chelmer Park, Porter the batting for Chingford.
'The pitch was a real green nipper,' says Porter. 'It was putrid. He didn't miss a length, and the amount of times I came forward to defend and got hit on the arm or the elbow…'
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