"Pretty manic" is Michael Porter's description for a typical day in the life of a Minor Counties cricketer.

It is only when the Dorset player goes into further detail, however, that you realise he's undersold the deal somewhat.

For starters, when the counties' cricketers lock horns with Herefordshire across the coming three days, they will do so for nada.

Save for the expenses Porter will be paid to cover the petrol he burns up on tonight's 130-mile drive to Herefordshire, he won't receive a penny for his time.

What's more, the 22-year-old will be jumping in his car after a day spent captaining Bashley in their crucial Southern Premier League encounter with Hampshire Academy at the Ageas Bowl.

If you suggest to Porter that this is an unforgiving gig, though, expect to be put straight.

He told the Daily Echo: "They are long days but it is what we all love doing. And those days are pretty manic as well. You wake up at seven in the morning and do not get back to your hotel until nine o’ clock at night.

"It is a challenge, but it is one we all embrace. I enjoy it and would not change it for anything The whole process helps players develop."

There are people who would do away with the minor counties game altogether; considering it an unnecessary layer between first-class and club cricket.

Certainly, the three-day competition repeatedly finds itself under the microscope. Is there either the requirement or room for more long-form cricket when England already has 18 first-class counties up to their eyes in four-day action?

"There is a lot of chat about getting rid of the three-day stuff – but that is what I love," says Porter.

"England wants to keep producing excellent Test match players and, surely, minor counties cricket can only help.

"It is teaching club players, and good young county players, how to bat for longer periods of time, or how to come back and bowl third and fourth spells at the end of a long day.

"The Southern League has a lot of players good enough for minor counties level – but there are no weak links in any of the minor counties teams. "There is never a bowler I can really target – you have to concentrate twice as hard to get your runs."

A skilful top-order batsman, Porter has recently completed a sports coaching degree at Southampton Solent University.

Accordingly, he has generally had more free time on his hands than some of his team-mates, who shift heaven and earth to represent Dorset.

"I have been able to take time off fairly easily while I have been at university," says Porter.

"But the guys with full-time jobs do struggle to take time off work. It does get to the stage, sometimes, when the cricket can be detrimental to them, because they miss out on pay from their job."

Nevertheless, Porter is far from the exception as a tyro, in what is a raw Dorset side. It has been a tough campaign, thus far. They were roundly beaten by Wiltshire last time out, after opening the 2017 Unicorns Championship season by drawing with Devon.

Ensuring the squad's strong bond remains firmly fastened, then, is an essential component of any away trip.

"The day’s play ends at about 7pm," says Porter. "We head back to the hotel to change, then go out for a team meal, or maybe sit in the bar and have a few quiet ones before going up to bed.

"It is very social. We try to do everything as a team, because we want to make the most of the limited contact time we have."

Porter, though, has left his social diary blank for the hours following Bashley's game on Hampshire's nursery ground today.

"It won’t be a case of going back to Bashley and having a drink," he says, without a trace of longing. "I'll be straight off to Herefordshire, aiming to get to the hotel as early as possible to see the guys."

It sounds like a labour of love, no doubt. But don't let Michael Porter hear you say that.