Chris Jordan wants early T20 results to build belief in Surrey ranks

BY MARCUS HOOK

Surrey’s T20 skipper Chris Jordan says he is relishing the challenge of making amends for last year’s heart-breaking quarter-final defeat to Yorkshire.

“We started really well and were one of the first teams to qualify for knockouts,” said Jordan, shortly before flying out to participate in this year’s Indian Premier League.

“Naturally, being a club of this stature, we started to lose players to England, including myself. But the way the boys played in the quarter-final was brilliant. In the end, we just couldn’t get over the line.

“But this year we’ll continue to create good role clarity for the guys in the team, take one game at a time and not get too far ahead of ourselves.

“Momentum is important, but starting the tournament well is a big part of it for me because it sets up that belief.”

Jordan first burst on to the scene as a teenager in 2007, but it wasn’t until he swapped the Oval for Sussex and Hove in 2013 that his career took off in a big way.

The 34-year-old seamer is now his country’s leading wicket-taker in International T20 cricket – just ahead of Adil Rashid – as well as a reigning T20 World Cup winner, following England’s success down under last November.

“It’s been quite a journey since I got the call from Alan Butcher to say I would be making my Surrey debut,” said Jordan.

“It’s mad to think that was 16 years ago. But I still feel young, ready to go and keen to show what I’ve got. It’s also a real honour to be Surrey’s T20 captain.

“As a group and a club, you just enjoy coming into work every day. Everyone’s focused on the same goals and looking to improve. It starts at the top and it’s just a great environment to be a part of.”