PSL Team:
|
Peshawar Zalmis
|
Category:
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Diamond
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Country:
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United Kingdom
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Born:
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Oct 04, 1988
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Playing Role:
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Bowler
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Batting Style:
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Right Hand
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Bowling Style:
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Fast
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Profile
Chris Jordan's remarkable turnaround after being
released by Surrey at the end of 2012 was capped when he was named in
England's Test squad to play Sri Lanka less than two years later. Having
made an immediate impression at Sussex, Jordan was picked for England
in late 2013 and seemed at home at international level during a run in
the limited-overs sides over the winter, leading to his elevation to
five-day cricket with a Test debut against Sri Lanka at Lord's at the
start of England's 2014 summer.
Four cheap wickets to round up India for 94 in an
innings win at The Oval brought a contented finish to an inconsistent
summer where he showed glimpses of great potential, an attacking bowling
style backed up by some belligerent bursts with the bat down the order
and slick fielding. That display, plus an excellent all-round
performance on his home ground in Bridgetown against West Indies in a
Twenty20 international and his demolition of Sri Lanka in an ODI at Old
Trafford were other highlights. Yet at times things went awry as his
method seemed to desert him, such as in a malfunctioning ODI spell
against India in Cardiff.
Jordan, a right-arm quick bowler born in the home
of fast bowling, Barbados, was first spotted in his native land by Bill
Athey, who was scouting for a recipient of a cricket scholarship back in
England at Dulwich College. He became an exciting prospect at Surrey
but failed to emerge as the bowler the county had hoped, not helped by a
troubled period in the county's affairs.
But a move to Sussex saw his true potential come to
the fore. England soon took notice. Eligible for England through his
grandmother, he was selected for two England Lions fixtures in 2013 -
meaning he would have to undertake a qualifying period to play for West
Indies - and travelled with the full England ODI squad to Dublin. An ODI
debut against Australia at the Ageas Bowl was enough to get him to
Australia for the limited-overs phase of a return tour a few months
later and he was one of the few players to emerge with his reputation
enhanced.
Jordan was earmarked for great things after Nadeem Shahid, Surrey's
Second XI coach, saw five minutes of his all-round ability. Shahid
immediately called then first XI coach Alan Butcher to tell him they had
a gem on their books. Five days later Jordan was at first team nets. He
impressed there and blazed into Surrey's team in August 2007, looking
the part immediately at just 18 years old.
It was a hugely promising start with 20 wickets at
24.50 before the year was out but in the following seasons, injuries and
inconsistency stalled his career and he missed the whole of 2010 with a
back problem. His return in 2011 produced only 11 wickets at 48.00 in
the Championship but that winter returned to play for Barbados and his
potential was again evident. But back with Surrey in 2012 he again
hardly suggested at anything spectacular and was released at the end of
the season. He went back to Barbados, with the question looming of who
he might play for internationally, and excelled again.
He moved to Sussex for 2013 and immediately
flourished as the bright spark he was thought of as a teenager. He took 6
for 48 on debut against Yorkshire, his first-class best figures, and
was among the leading wicket-takers in the County Championship, passing
fifty wickets for the first time. Sussex - and their director of cricket
Mark Robinson - shared the plaudits for restoring an obvious talent.