Jordan’s the ultimate professional, says Saker

England bowling coach salutes all-rounder’s rout of SL in 3rd ODI.

MANCHESTER: England bowling coach David Saker hailed Chris Jordan as the ‘ultimate professional’ after the all-rounder spearheaded a stunning 10-wicket defeat of Sri Lanka in the third ODI.

Sussex pacer Jordan took a career-best five wickets for 29 runs as England dismissed Sri Lanka for just 67 at Old Trafford on Wednesday.



“The way he prepares for every game, the way he looks after himself, he’s the ultimate professional,” said Saker of Jordan.

Saker, himself a former Victoria and Tasmania seam bowler, added Jordan’s attitude was equalled only by his talent.

“He always wants to get better and he is getting better every game. He fields really well.

“He bowls well and when he gets the ball in his area he hits it out of the park so he’s been a fantastic find for us,” added Saker of the Barbados-born Jordan, who came to England after being scouted for a sports scholarship at London school Dulwich College by former Test batsman Bill Athey.

Sri Lanka’s total was the lowest score made by any Test nation against England in a ODI and second only to minnows Canada’s 45, also at Old Trafford, during the 1979 World Cup.

England captain Alastair Cook and Ian Bell made light work of scoring the winning runs, with Bell finishing a match that lasted just 36.1 overs, out of a possible 100, with a straight six off spinner Rangana Herath as England went 2-1 up in this five-match series.

Cook, who missed the Chester-le-Street collapse with a groin strain, said Jordan’s competitive spirit could take him a long way in the game.

“You see how much it means to him every time he gets a wicket and every time he bowls a bad ball, how much it hurts him,” he said.

“It’s a great attribute to have.”

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews was left hoping his side could follow England’s example in bouncing back from a heavy defeat come Saturday’s fourth ODI at Lord’s.

“We are in the same situation,” he said. “It’s one of the worst games I’ve ever played, ever been a part of.

“Poor shot selection was the main reason we got so few runs. It was never a 67 wicket — there were no demons in it.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 30^th, 2014.

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