Hometown hero Jordan takes England to ‘crunch time’ in Barbados
- Chris Jordan exited the press conference following England’s convincing win over the United States with his hand firmly wrapped around a little cardboard package.
- The match ball, which he had used to score England’s first T20 international hat-trick an hour earlier, was inside.
This hat-trick held great meaning for Jordan.
Barbados is where the 35-year-old was born. He was born and raised on the island, where he played cricket until he came to London as a teenager to attend a sports academy.
He watched his first live international match at Kensington Oval. He used to throw down throws on the outfield to the legendary Brian Lara of the West Indies.
Jordan remarked, “I fell in love with the game at that very moment.”
Although Jordan had always looked up to Lara and the other legendary West Indians, this was his chance to play at the storied old ground.
With a delivery that sent Ali Khan cartwheeling, he trapped Nosthush Kenjige leg before wicket and then, with such intensity, knocked over Saurabh Netravalkar as he retreated towards the stands where Jordan used to sit.
His family was on the ground, observing as it arrived.
“My family actually doesn’t get to travel the world and watch me play a lot of international cricket,” Jordan stated.
“So to do it in front of them definitely is right up there [among the best moments of his career].”
There was a long list of Jordans in the grandstand. To mention a few, there was the mother, father, sister, brother-in-law, and nephew.
“My nephew’s the one because he called me this morning and said ‘make sure you take three wickets today if you’re playing’,” Jordan explained.
“I looked up and he’s jumping up. He might be out there attempting to accomplish the same thing one day. You ultimately strive to be a good example.”
For Jordan and his England teammate Jofra Archer, who was born in Barbados as well, this World Cup has been a homecoming.
While some may have anticipated hostility from the community and dismay at their choice to leave the West Indies and play for England, they have received support at every turn.
There were groups of youngsters from their previous schools in the stands for England’s opening tournament play.
The greatest cheer of the day was heard when Archer’s name was called out. Both bowlers received an invitation to the prime minister’s box after that.
If you have played cricket in Barbados, you have most likely done so with a well-known international player.
Jordan attended Combermere School, where he was classmates with Rihanna and within a year of each other, West Indies internationals Kraigg and Carlos Brathwaite, Roston Chase, and Shane Dowrich.
Aaron Jones, who led the US on Sunday, was another contemporary of Jordan and Archer. Although Jones’ parents were from Barbados, they were born in New York and raised on the island’s streets and beaches.
“Sometimes we’d go out on our lunch break and play cricket in the corridor,” Jordan said.
You never imagined that you would be playing cricket against and with each other on a global scale. It truly is unique.”
Jordan was the least skilled player on his high school squad, according to those who played with him, but he has since grown into one of England’s most trustworthy players.
When he was pulled out of the Caribbean tour squad last December, it appeared as though his England career was ended. However, he travelled to Australia for the Big Bash and improved his lower-order six-hitting.
When England’s managing director of men’s cricket, Rob Key, unveiled the squad, he focused more on Jordan’s batting than his bowling.
Jordan has always been regarded as one of the greatest fielders in the world and one of the most composed individuals. It’s no accident that when England’s inexperienced bowlers, like Archer, are in a spell, skipper Jos Buttler places Jordan near to him.
For more information, visit https://sportzbiz.co.uk/
However, it is also characteristic of the man that he was eager to downplay his hat-trick.
Jordan has always been the epitome of a team player, willing to jump at the chance to substitute himself on the pitch or just put a smile on people’s faces.
During the 2019 Ashes, Archer made his Test debut at Lord’s and requested permission from Jordan to come and give him his cap.
Given that Jordan is one of the few black cricket players in England, his remarks about serving as a role model are noteworthy.
When asked to sum up his day, he remarked, “I thought the team performance was really solid today.”
And because to that performance, England will play in the semi-finals in Trinidad or Guyana.
It is still impossible to forecast their possibilities, not just because it is unclear who will oppose them—India, Australia, Afghanistan, or Bangladesh, for example.
They have, however, subsequently regained their form, winning handily over the USA, Namibia, Oman, and the West Indies.
Conversely, they have dropped two out of the three World Cup games they have played against Test-playing countries, in South Africa and Australia.
According to Jordan, “tournament cricket is one of ups and downs.”
“The boys have played some pretty tight games lately. It’s getting close to crunch time, so maybe that will continue.”
England hopes to return to the Kensington Oval for the championship game this Saturday.
Along with his match ball, Jordan hopes to carry with him another keepsake from the T20 World Cup.