England v New Zealand: Matty Potts - the confident kid on the brink of his Test debut

One of the first words to be said by those who have shared a dressing room with Matty Potts is confidence.

The self-belief that got him into trouble in the past now has the Durham pace bowler on the verge of an England debut, which could come in the first Test against New Zealand on Thursday.

One former team-mate explains that the grandeur of Lord's is a long way from the beginning.

"I am a big guy, 17 or 18 stone, but I am going to fight everyone in the changing room and I am going to start with you, Ash," said Matty.

It was nothing more than him trying to prove that he was the alpha male inside him.

He did not get beyond me. He was on the floor.

That is the kind of confidence he has as a player and a person.

He is funny in a non-offensive way but has always had that drive, chip and confidence in his own ability and he always had that belief that he was going to go somewhere in the game.

He started out as a batter at Washington and went on to play in men's league cricket.

The old man is about 6ft 9in and we knew he would be a decent bowler.

He made his Durham debut when he was 18.

Neil Killeen says that he stuck his chest out as he does.

He talked to senior players about how they should be bowling, batting or fielding.

We had to tell Matthew to find his place.

He isn't quietly confident. He is very confident, but not arrogant. It is the way he holds himself.

Potts said in a recent interview he was a "naughty kid" at school. He went to Sixth Form at St Robert of Newminster in Tyne and Wear, the same school attended by England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

Stephen Langstaff, St Robert's head of PE, says there are some links between the two of them.

That gives them an edge in the sporting field.

Matty played football for the school and we used his athletic ability in defence. The phrase "robust" would be used by me.

An outstanding start to the County Championship season has catapulted Potts into the England squad.

He is the leading red-ball bowler in the country with 35 wickets at an average of 18.7 in Division Two and can now back up his belief with the numbers.

Rather than fighting team-mates he now spends his time walking his dogs or admiring cars.

James Anderson, England's most successful bowler, welcomed him to the squad after his first England call-up.

When Rob Key, England's new managing director of men's cricket spoke about the squad, he talked about the point of difference.

While he doesn't have the speed of a fast bowler, those who have seen him develop say he has improved this season and is capable of bowling in excess of 85mph.

Finding bounce from flat pitches has been the key to Potts' success this season, as he has three six- and one seven-for hauls.

He will run in and hit the pitch hard.

He will make the battle uncomfortable and get into it.

That is not what he is saying. The ball is being delivered in uncomfortable positions. Throughout the summer, he has done that relentlessly.

If Potts gets the nod, he will be the latest from the Durham bowling line-up that has provided England with Steve Harmison, Graham Onions, Ben Stokes and Mark Wood.

He is right up there with those names.

His bowling spells and matches this year are some of the best displays I have seen at Durham and this is my 30th year as a player and a coach.

The kid is ready to go on stage.