I’m addicted to bowling at the death
Jordan makes pitch for vital T20 World Cup role
IT IS a job that turns you into a hero or a zero, but England’s Chris Jordan says he cannot get enough of the jeopardy of bowling at the death of a limited-overs innings.
‘I still very much enjoy it. It’s like an addiction, because the prospect of coming out on the right end of it keeps me going back for it every time,’ Jordan tells Mail Sport.
‘That’s my mindset, really, because it’s a real top feeling when you win a game for your team — it does a lot for your confidence.’
Jordan will therefore be putting his hand up to reprise the role at next month’s Twenty20 World Cup, after experiencing polarised emotions at the previous two.
Surrey’s white-ball captain travels to the Caribbean as a world champion,
NATHAN LYON won his Ashes battle with Ben Stokes by dismissing the England captain for two during Lancashire’s clash with Durham at Blackpool.
Stokes, playing his first match of the season for Durham, had made two off 16 balls when Australian off-spinner Lyon turned one sharply, drawing an edge to second slip.
having played his part in shutting down Pakistan’s middle order in the final in Melbourne 18 months ago, taking wickets in the 18th and 20th overs to finish with figures of two for 27.
Only Adil Rashid has bettered his 96 T20 wickets during a 10-year international career, yet he owes his place in the squad that warms up for the tournament with a four-match series against Pakistan to his batting.
When Ben Stokes withdrew, the selectors focused on identifying a seam bowling option known for powerful ball striking at the back end of the innings and, with Jamie Overton nursing a sore back, the 15th and final place went to Jordan.
‘I’ve always viewed myself as an allrounder but on average, when you are batting at seven and eight, you are not facing more than seven to eight
deliveries,’ Jordan says. ‘You’re not going to be scoring the headline 50 or 100, but there are other ways to have an impact and you have to assess how to be as effective as possible, because sometimes you walk in with someone on 60 at the other end and it’s your job to rotate the strike.
‘On other days, the team might be in a world of trouble, it’s a decent enough wicket and 150 will not be enough, so that dictates you take a few more risks.
‘One thing I have developed in the past couple of years is that clarity of the time to “go” and not holding back when it is time, fully committing to shots and giving it everything when trying to clear the ropes.’
Jordan was not chosen for England’s away series against West Indies last December, but the major take home from the trip was the value of sixhitting — the two teams shared 120 across the five matches.
‘The game might come down to two or three balls,’ Jordan agrees, ‘so no matter how you’ve gone in your spell previously, it’ll be so important to remain in the present and understand that two or three of your best deliveries can change the game.
‘That’s how fine a margin the game is becoming.’
Jordan’s recall also opens up the possibility of him lining up for England in a World Cup final at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, a stone’s throw from where he grew up.
‘If I could end up in a moment like that it’d be unbelievable,’ he says. ‘First and foremost, it means we’ll have gone a long way towards defending our title.
‘Secondly, it’s the culture I grew up in and a lot of my family and friends, who otherwise would not be able to travel or watch me play international cricket, will be there.’
So too, fingers crossed, will be Jofra Archer, Jordan’s fellow Barbadosborn fast bowler and close friend, who will play his first professional match in over a year against the Pakistanis this week.
‘He’s worked so hard to get to this point and he’s really chomping at the bit, but I just want him to keep taking things a day at a time and not really put too much pressure on,’ Jordan reflects.
‘Watching him operate you wouldn’t think he was out for that long. Like anyone, he needs games and hopefully he’ll get them over and really hit his stride at the right time, peaking into the World Cup.’