Five players who were unlucky to miss out on England's Ashes squad

Jamie Porter

Porter has 180 first-class wickets to his name in the last three seasons

Ever since Jamie Porter turned his attention towards playing cricket full-time, he has simply been a revelation. The Essex fast bowler picked up 50+ plus wickets in 2015 and 2016 in Division 2 with brisk pace and an ability to do just enough to deceive the batsman and pick up wickets at regular intervals. This season saw him finish with 75 wickets, the leading wicket-taker in the County Championship and helped Essex claim the Division One title.

With 180 wickets to his name in the last three seasons, the 24-year-old looked to have done enough. Especially considering the fact that one of the brightest moments was when he picked up six wickets against the Australians in a tour match ahead of the 2015 Ashes, including the wicket of opener David Warner, who he identified as a target ahead of the match and then proceeded to dismiss him as well.

While the pacer himself admitted that he didn't think he would make the Ashes squad, lack of outstanding candidates might just have been enough to get him a spot in the side. With Toby Roland-Jones and Mark Wood having injury problems and none of the other capped fast bowlers having a great season, Porter could well have made it. But the selectors opted to go with another youngster in Craig Overton.