Jordan has confidence World Cup holders will show class
CHRIS Jordan retained a sense of perspective after England’s heavy one-day international defeat to South Africa in Cape Town, insisting the world champions have not become a bad side overnight.
Six months on from winning the World Cup, and in their first ODI since the nailbiting final against New Zealand at Lord’s, England were blown away by seven wickets with 14 balls to spare at Newlands on Tuesday.
Having been restricted to 258 for eight in the series opener, England were powerless to stop a 173run partnership between Quinton De Kock (107) and Temba Bavuma (98), which ultimately broke the back of a successful chase.
Jordan at least made sure Bavuma did not follow his captain to three figures, trapping the batsman in front when he was two short of a century to the disappointment of a largely-partisan home crowd.
“We’re very disappointed with the result. We didn’t play anywhere near our best cricket,” Jordan said. “Normally when we’re at our best we’re on the front foot with bat, ball and in the field, but we were slightly off the mark.”
Jordan made his ODI return after a three-and-a-half-year absence from the format, one of the beneficiaries of several World Cup winners being rested from this three-match series. However, England still put out five of the side that overcame the Black Caps last July and Jordan believes those on tour here are more than capable of bouncing back when the series resumes at Durban tomorrow. The 31-year-old fast bowler added: “We’ve got another two games left in the series and we’ll do our best to bounce back.
“I think that’s our first 50-over game since the World Cup. Two games ago this team was lifting the
Two games ago this team was lifting the World Cup, so we’re more than confident we can bounce back.
World Cup, so we’re more than confident we can bounce back.”
Warwickshire all-rounder Chris Woakes believes England must find a way to subdue De Kock.
“He’s a world-class player and with him being captain now he has that side of his game where he wants to see them over the line which might give him that extra motivation to play even better,” Woakes said.
“That will be tough for us because we have to find ways to get him out. I’ve been fortunate to play with him in the IPL and he’s a world-class player, so we’re going to have to figure out how we can stop him scoring runs. He’s a big, big player for them so it’s important we try to get him out early.”
Bavuma was also a major factor in Woakes’ 100th ODI appearance ending in a comprehensive defeat.
After a difficult past few months, in which he missed all but the final Test of the series against England, he was merely happy to play his part alongside De Kock.
“It was just good to be on the field,’’ said Bavuma. “That might sound a bit indifferent but I really felt like I was a kid with no burden out there.”