LONDON, CMC – Barbados-born England all-rounder Chris Jordan said he remained pragmatic about his selection for the Twenty20 World Cup and was now looking forward to playing at a familiar Kensington Oval during next month’s showpiece.
The 35-year-old, a shrewd seamer, useful lower-order batsman, and sharp slip-catcher, was recently named in England’s 15-man squad for the June 1-29 campaign in the Caribbean and the United States despite not having played an international in nearly eight months.
Despite his absence from the England squad, Jordan has remained one of the most sought-after players in the franchise T20 format circuit, having taken 368 wickets from 355 appearances.
Jordan was quoted as saying, “I wasn’t expecting the call, but I never ruled it out either.”
“I had good communication with the hierarchy, and they suggested they would look at the franchise form. In terms of batting, I guess the penny drops with different people at different times.
“Down the order, it can be hit or miss, but I have started to manage my expectations of what a good knock looks like and play the situation.
“I keep my breathing under control, nice, and rhythmic, and I also do my homework on opposition.”
Jordan, who grew up in Barbados and played a handful of first games for the island, will bring not only experience but also knowledge of tournament conditions.
England, the defending champions in the format, will play the first two of their Group B first-round matches in Kensington Oval—the opening game against Namibia and the second a box office clash against perennial rivals Australia.
And with the final being staged at the storied venue, Jordan’s experience and knowledge could be worth its weight in gold.
“The Kensington Oval has a special place in my heart,” explained Jordan, who will be accompanied in the squad by another Barbados-born speedster, Jofra Archer.
“Growing up at school, we used to play finals there, and it’s where I watched my first ever cricket match. It was the West Indies versus England. I was maybe five, and I remember the atmosphere vividly, the vibe that first morning, the conch shells blowing …”
He added: “We’ll bring that knowledge of conditions. Understanding the crosswinds is one example – unique to the Caribbean.
“It’s trying to be smart and not get carried away, especially during the day games, as it can often drop at night.”
Jordan, a member of England’s 2022 title-winning side, said England needed to bring a higher level of intensity than the 19 other teams if they were to repeat as champions.
“We are defending champions, so it’s important to understand we will be hunted – 100 percent – so we must match or surpass the other teams’ intensity,” he warned.
“But check it out: In the last three T20 World Cups, we’ve been finalists, semi-finalists, and champions, so our pedigree in this format is pretty strong.”
and then 