NEWS
Follow UsChris Jordan had one of the best nights of his career on June 23 (Sunday), when he became the first England player to pick up a hat-trick. As a result, England restricted the USA to just 115, winning the match comfortably in the end.
It has not been smooth sailing for England at the T20 World Cup 2024. They were scratchy against Scotland in the first game, but escaped with a point, and were handed a thrashing by Australia in their next game. However, they have bounced back well since then and became the first team o make it through to the semi-final, following their 10-wicket victory over the US.
Jordan believes that those "bumps" along the way has helped England in getting their act together. "First part of the job is done really. When we left England a few weeks ago, we left to come and obviously try and defend the title," Jordan, who finished with 4/10, told reporters after the game against the US.
"There's been a few bumps in the road along the way, but I think you kind of described them as good bumps because they've really narrowed down our focus and really made our direction really clear. I think you can see that with the way in which the boys are playing now."
The fast bowler said that there was no panic in the dressing room despite a tough start to the tournament. England had a scrappy start in 2022 as well, but then went on to win the title in Australia.
"I think having gone through it in the last World Cup that we won as well. I think it's standing us in good stead because there was not too much panic when I think it was the Ireland game, and they ended up winning on Duckworth Lewis, and then we had to be in a position where we had to win every game after that," Jordan recalled.
"But I think the calmness within the dressing room, the dressing room has a lot of experience now, both in the playing 15 and also off the field as well. So, we've had some really good chats. And I think the scenarios that we found ourselves in, where we had to get our run rate up and stuff like that, and try to beat people and really dominate games, really gave us some really clear direction. I think you're seeing that in the way we're playing now."
Jos Buttler came good against the US, scoring a blistering 83* off just 38 deliveries, with as many as seven sixes punctuating his innings. He has never really got going in the tournament and Jordan believes it was just a matter of time before the England skipper came good.
"I wouldn't describe it as a relief at all because, I mean, seeing him doing it on so many occasions, he really is the leader of the group in every single way. He's our best player, that's for sure and then when he's in that mode, we definitely tend to follow it. So yeah, that was just a Jos special today," Jordan said.
"The way Jos plays and his class will always shine through at some point, you know, and you saw even if you want to refer back to the last World Cup, the semi-final, the way him and Halsey played against India, it’s just inevitable, I feel, because he's that good a player and we have that much belief in him. Long may that continue."
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