Chris Jordan hopes his World Cup ship 'hasn't sailed'

He may have been all but pigeon-holed as a 20-over specialist but, having done everything he could to thrust his name to the forefront of selectors' minds in England's opening T20I win over West Indies, Chris Jordan hopes his ODI World Cup ship has not sailed.

With the T20 World Cup more than 18 months away, the three-match T20I series in the Caribbean represents little more than bonus entertainment for a fan base already spoiled by the excitement of the preceding three Tests and four ODIs, and a chance for both nations to hone their thinking about the ODI World Cup starting at the end of May - West Indies have even retained their ODI squad and captain for the T20I series.

Jordan has not played an ODI in more than two years and his latest feats did come in the shorter format, but they reminded interested onlookers of his value with the ball and in the field.

For his part, Jordan said it was all about "enjoyment" and it was easy to see why. He removed Chris Gayle cheaply for the first time since the ODI Player of the Series returned to the fold for West Indies' limited-overs campaigns against England, and dismissed Darren Bravo with a brilliant a caught-and-bowled to finish with 2-16 off three overs.

"The Caribbean is a lovely place to play cricket, my family will be here watching most games, just enjoy it and let results take care of themselves," the Barbadian-born Jordan said, adding that he remained hopeful of securing a World Cup berth. "I hope the ship hasn't sailed. I can't get too far ahead in my thinking, I'm not that type of character. One game at a time and let the outcomes take care of themselves."

Jordan revealed he had spoken about his one-day prospects with national selector Ed Smith.

"I've had conversations with Ed when squads are being picked and he's always said I'm there or thereabouts, in the discussions," Jordan said. "That gives me encouragement. T20 cricket is what I'm involved with at the minute, anything past that I'll leave to the selectors and the captain."

Jordan was also hoping for the best for Jofra Archer, who was also born in Barbados and is expected to qualify for England under ECB residency rules in time for the World Cup, should he be selected.

"I speak to him every day, literally every day, he's like my little brother," Jordan said of 23-year-old Archer. "One of the things I admire about Jofra, for a kid so young he's got a good head on his shoulders. There is noise about him potentially playing in the series... if it happens I'm more than certain he'll rise to the occasion because he's that type of person and that type of character."

Jordan said he continued to work hard on his bowling and fielding, which was sharply in focus when he tempted Bravo with a newly developed slower ball and then changed direction on his follow through to take that spectacular one-handed catch sprawling to his right.

"That was good," Jordan said. "When I bowled the slower ball initially I wasn't sure if I was getting there. Then, the closer I got I realised I was getting there and it stuck in my hand.

"Not many catches are that easy, to be honest, you see them go down in games. You try to practice as much as possible, practice slip catching and outfield catching and when you get into game time when moments like that come you've almost played it over in your head already. I'm just glad it came off. I pride myself on my fielding in general. I do work hard on it."

And of the slower ball, he said: "Yeah, I have been adding a couple of slower balls to my arsenal. I don't want to give away too much on it given I got a wicket with it, but it's a new one."

Jordan had no qualms about not bowling at the death in the T20I series opener, which England won by four wickets with seven balls remaining. That role went to Tom Curran, who ended the match as the pick of the England bowlers, claiming 4-36 off his four overs.

"It's normally my role in the team, one or two (overs) in the Powerplay and two at the death, but my role is also to adapt and be versatile, be ready whenever the captain calls on me," Jordan said. "TC did a brilliant job, took four wickets and bowled a brilliant last over, but next time it might be me. That's the type of team we're in, we're not selfish characters and we just keep everyone improving.

Chris Jordan, England's forgotten World Cup option?

While all the talk in recent months has been of Jofra Archer's chances of forcing his way into England's World Cup squad, there is another Barbadian-born bowler who might be worth further consideration.

Chris Jordan has not played an ODI since September 2016. He does not bowl quite as fast as Archer and, aged 30, does not possess quite the same amount of long-term promise as his 23-year-old protégé.

But, as he showed in the first T20I of the series against West Indies, Jordan remains a highly skilled and experienced cricketer who might just be at the peak of his powers.

His key contribution in this game was taking the wicket of Chris Gayle. That was a feat that proved beyond his England colleagues for much of the ODI series (to be fair, they dismissed him in every innings but not before he had thrashed them into the stands a few times) and the manner in which he did so - a well-directed yorker just wide of off stump - suggested he had some skills which could prove valuable. Remember, England's seamers appeared either reluctant or unable to bowl the delivery on demand in the ODI series so Jordan's demonstration may have been timely. He had also hurried Gayle with a well-directed bouncer.

But the wicket of Darren Bravo was just as impressive. So bamboozled by Jordan's well-disguised slower delivery was Bravo, an experienced player, that he could only spoon the ball into the air. Jordan, demonstrating another part of his game that might give him an edge, made good ground and clung on to a one-handed diving catch. It was a reminder, if any were required, that he may be the best fielder available to England. Having such a man in the squad - even if they don't make the XI - must be useful.

In all, he delivered 10 dot balls from the 18 he bowled. He was hit for two boundaries; both from the hugely talented Nicholas Pooran.

It's perhaps worth comparing Jordan's performance with some of his apparent rivals for a spot in the World Cup squad. David Willey used the new ball well here, generating just enough movement to prevent Gayle from sizing him up, and came in at No. 7 to see England over the line. He didn't bowl after the third over of the innings, though, and by then Gayle had struck two of his final four deliveries for six.

What can we read into that? Perhaps that, unless Willey takes one of the new balls, he is of limited use to the ODI side. He rarely bowls at the death and only twice in his last 25 ODIs has he delivered his full allocation of 10 overs. One of those occasions was in the defeat to Scotland in which he conceded 72.

And while his left-arm variation would be welcome, it seems unlikely he will dispossess the likes of Chris Woakes, Mark Wood and, perhaps, Archer in the tussle for that new-ball role.

Might it be relevant that Jordan didn't bowl at the death? Could it be that he was instead being given an opportunity to show what he could do in the middle-over period (he bowled the fourth, sixth and 14th overs) in which Liam Plunkett has been so proficient in recent years?

It's possible. Plunkett does seem to be in gentle decline and was England's most expensive bowler here. It would make sense if England were at least mindful of the need to consider alternatives, though it would be a surprise if he didn't make the squad.

It seems more likely that England simply had more trust in Tom Curran than Jordan at the death and view him as the more likely part of their World Cup plans. Eoin Morgan, the captain, later explained that, with Pooran recently dismissed, Curran's slower balls to a pair of new batsmen were simply the better option available to him.

Curran ended up with four wickets, too, as reward for his control and variations. Plunkett and Jordan do not offer quite the same package of skills, either, with Plunkett's height and back-of-a-length cutters having a proven track record. Jordan's variations are impressive, though, and he probably could offer England options in all portions of an ODI innings.

We probably have to be careful about making assumptions regarding ODI suitability from a T20 match. Jordan bowled only three overs, after all. But some of the skills - the control, the variation, the ability to perform under pressure - are clearly transferable.

It's certainly not a simple case of Archer and Jordan competing for one place in the World Cup squad. There could, in theory, be room for both or indeed, neither. As things stand, England are considering the likes of Liam Dawson and Joe Denly as spin-bowling all-rounder.

But is there really any need for a third spinner in a 15-man squad? With Joe Root capable of supporting Adil Rashid - who bowled beautifully here and would not have conceded a boundary had Curran not made a fearful hash on the fence - and Moeen Ali in the spin bowling positions and Alex Hales having the batting reserve spot all sewn up, it is a position that could instead go to another seamer. Jordan remains an outsider for that spot, but he didn't do himself any harm here.

West Indies' new CEO wants to put fans first

It's most likely fitting that Johnny Grave, the new WICB CEO, is making his new base at Coolidge, the old Stanford ground, in Antigua.

It's a place that had turned into an image of West Indies' decrease. Toward the begin of January, it was congested and blocked. Bushes had developed on the outfield and the grass was knee high. It gave just an agonizing memory of the time West Indies cricket (and English cricket, to be reasonable) bounced into bed with Allen Stanford.

Yet, it may likewise turn into an image for Caribbean cricket's resurgence. It may likewise mirror Grave's capacity to take something that seems broken and make it into something great. Since, at this moment, the WICB are, in association with the administration of Antigua and Barbuda, during the time spent purchasing the ground from Stanford's beneficiaries.

At the point when the arrangement is finished, the site will be the new base for West Indies cricket. It will house the elite focus, the corporate workplaces and most different branches of an association that has a turnover of around USD40m and utilizes 45 individuals. The old Sticky Wicket eatery, where Stanford used to engage, will be leased to give pay. The ground, with its satisfying grass banks and limit of around 8,000, has as of now facilitated some Super-50 recreations, including the current year's last. It is gradually returning to life. Possibly West Indies cricket is, as well.

Grave concedes he has a long schedule. In any case, while he is quick to address coordinate begin times (global T20 recreations had been planned to begin at 9.30am to speak to the worldwide communicate advertise), ticket (costs for the ODI arrangement against England are around USD75, which might be alright for England's voyaging supporters, yet is steep for the neighborhood showcase) and securing the fate of an association without any benefits and, fixing to a 50-year - yes, 50-year - CPL business bargain, he has one need that is more squeezing than all: he needs to reengage with West Indies cricket supporters who may have lost confidence in both the load up and their group.

"I thought my greatest difficulties would enhance our association with the players and drawing in more business pay," he says. "Be that as it may, I now trust its enhancing our associations with our supporters and repairing the brand.

To that end he plans to organize West Indies' supporter’s in future basic leadership. "I do comprehend the significance of our abroad supporters however shouldn't something be said about our home market?" he says. "Who comes to watch T20 at 9.30am? We should locate the correct adjust.

"What's more, yes, we have to put possessions into grassroots cricket to stop the more extended type of the amusement from kicking the bucket here. Be that as it may, when you see just 400 individuals go to the main day of a Test, you do think about whether in a few islands its dead as of now."

However good faith flourishes. Matured 40, Grave has the vitality and energy of a man who still can't seem to be baffled by organization. He has the aspiration to substantiate himself and the experience, both financially (he put in seven years with Surrey's business division and, from that point onward, 10 in the Professional Cricketers' Association) and as a union representative, to fabricate extensions and associations with patrons, players, onlookers and supporters. It's not hard to perceive any reason why he was decided for the employment.

"I don't think individuals in the Caribbean have dropped out of adoration with cricket," Grave says. "Be that as it may, they may have released out of adoration with the WICB. We will need to strive to recover their affection. We need to repair that relationship and reignite their adoration for West Indies cricket."

There are as of now down to earth steps being taken to transform the discussion vigorously. The WICB has designated a midway contracted guardian (or grounds man, contingent upon where you live) to go through the locale giving guidance and help on the surfaces required for global cricket, specifically. The times of West Indies offering agonizingly moderate, attritional wickets are, as indicated by Grave, going to end. Jimmy Adams and Stuart Law, the new chief of cricket and mentor, need the snappy, bouncy surfaces which used to portray Caribbean cricket. As he puts it: "West Indies cricket is prevalent around the globe for the style and fervor it offers. Be that as it may, you can't have festival cricket on the portion of the wickets we've had previously. It needs to change."

In the interim, an olive branch has been offered to Darren Bravo. Also, as opposed to reports somewhere else, his NOC was marked "inside five minutes of getting it" as per Grave. "We're not going to withhold NOCs," he says. "There's no future in that." Bravo will, in this way, be allowed to go to the IPL and welcome to come back toward the West Indies overlap upon his arrival. Yes, there should be a type of open expression of remorse - maybe from both sides - however there is no endeavor to embarrass or disgrace. Simply resolve.

On the off chance that you are a youthful player taking a gander at a vocation in the diversion, the likelihood of putting in the most recent couple of years of your profession as a Kolpak makes the suggestion of an existence as an expert cricketer more reasonable

Maybe in particular, Grave is interested in investigating another arrangement of focal contracts subject to monetary and board endorsement. Rather than three unique groups, he proposes three separate contracts for each of Test, ODI and T20I cricket might be more appropriate. He is practical about the contending requests of abroad T20 alliances and has no expectation of clashing with the IPL - "it might well be our season needs to break before the IPL begins," he says - yet feels that, with a tad of trade off, this can be "a win-win" circumstance for the players, the board and, in particular, the onlookers.

He likewise supports cricket's arrival to the Olympics, a Test Championship and a World T20 at regular intervals. "[The Olympics] is the main way we'll split the American and even Chinese markets," he says. "I know there will be reasonable issues, however we can discover a determination, I'm certain. It's basic in the event that we truly need to be a worldwide diversion."

Having gone to his first ICC meeting, where Test cricket was high on the plan, he says "there was a momentous level of agreement about the requirement for setting". The 50-over World Cup will, he trusts, proceed with well past 2019 yet West Indies may as of now have played their last Champions Trophy coordinate. In the meantime the begin time of T20 recreations against Pakistan will be returned to 12.30pm, the most recent the present communicate arrangement will permit, and in future ticket costs will be gone for the nearby market.

While Richard Pybus' notoriety partitions sentiment - his hard line position towards determination has brought on some division and looks sure to be audited - Grave rushes to acclaim his commitment as chief of cricket in different regions. Positively Pybus' work in setting up proficient classes for the diversion in the Caribbean ought to be his genuine legacy. It's less impressive than the work around the worldwide groups, yet it gives the establishments whereupon future West Indies groups can be constructed and has implied, surprisingly, that local players are utilized on an expert premise winning between USD15,000 - 30,000 a year. His successor, Jimmy Adams, may well come to be thankful for that part of Pybus' endeavors.

There will be no dangers or ultimatums against those playing in T20 classes or taking the Kolpak choice, either. Rather Grave plans to induce the dominant part of Caribbean players that their future can be all the more remunerating inside the overlap.

"I see the Kolpak circumstance as invaluable to West Indies cricket," he says. "On the off chance that you are a youthful player taking a gander at a vocation in the diversion, the likelihood of putting in the most recent couple of years of your profession as a Kolpak makes the suggestion of an existence as an expert cricketer more sensible. Yes, we may lose a few players towards the sundown of their professions - any semblance of Ravi Rampaul, who has served West Indies cricket well yet has a chance to profit in the most recent couple of years of his vocation - however we may likewise keep a couple who generally may have thought the danger of playing cricket too enormous to legitimize."

'on the off chance that we can impart what we're attempting to do with everybody included, I trust we can bring them with us in the bearing we have to go'          

In any case, what of the possibility of losing more youthful players to Kolpak or T20 groups?

"I don't know what number of them, assuming any, future happier doing that," he says. "When you've paid your operators charges and assessments, you don't profit as you think. What's more, to preclude yourself of global cricket and the shop window that speaks to… I'd have thought any youthful player going that course had been inadequately prompted.

"Will we truly contend on the worldwide stage without our best players? I'd think the response to that is no.

"In any case, we're not going to be held to recover. Individuals must be sensible in their desires. In any case, on the off chance that we can convey what we're attempting to do with everybody included, I trust we can bring them with us in the course we have to go. We as a whole need a similar thing. On the off chance that we cooperate, we have a greatly improved possibility of accomplishing it."

"And keeping in mind that I had heard a considerable amount about the strains between the board and players, my impression so far has been extremely positive. Jason Holder brought the entire group into the workplace last Friday and acquainted them with all the staff. It was their day away from work however he felt it was essential and they spent a few hours here. It was extremely great and exceptionally promising."

Everything sounds awesome, isn't that right? Yet, we've heard empowering talk some time recently. Grave absolutely isn't the main well-meaning cricket director. Might he discover his thoughts impeded and baffled by board and councils and grievances of which he doesn't know anything and which backpedal years?

"I don't get that impression by any means," he says. "The President [Dave Cameron] and I have a similar vision thus far he's endowed me to get on with the employment. He's been extremely strong. I think the board need to enable the